Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if further environmental designations (details supplied) are planned; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12808/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The process of designating Ireland's suite of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) is almost complete. It has been necessary for Ireland to revisit its designation of SACs and SPAs following two separate judgments of the European Court of Justice.

Ireland's suite of candidate SACs, adopted by the European Commission in 2008, extends to 423 sites countrywide. Ireland is required to add to its marine SAC sites and progress in this regard will be made over the coming period.

It should be noted that the Habitats Directive requires a final designation process to formally adopt candidate SACs as SACs. The final steps in this process require formal designation of the sites by statutory instrument and the notification of owners and users that these sites have statutory protection. This stage of the process will commence shortly.

Some 135 SPAs, of an eventual network of 153 sites, have already been classified in accordance with the terms of the Birds Directive as clarified by the European Court of Justice in its judgment against Ireland in case 418/04. Eighteen SPAs remain to be notified and this will happen over the coming months as the scientific data and maps for the sites are finalized. All SPAs will also be formally designated through statutory instrument and this process has been completed for 80 of the 150 sites. Owners and users will also be notified that these sites have statutory protection.

The issue of formally designating further proposed NHAs will be considered further once the SAC and SPA designation programme is complete.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full extent of area and location area of land, shorelines, river basins and bog lands currently protected by special areas of conservation or other conservation measures on foot of various EU directives; the further extent and or areas the subject of future conservation orders in respect of which agreement has been reached with the EU authorities; the degree to which the full impact of any such provisions has been evaluated from an economic viewpoint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16569/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The designation of Ireland's suite of candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) is almost complete. The schedules below list Ireland's suite of cSACs (Schedule 1) and SPAs (Schedule 2) classified to date with the area in hectares for each site. Some sites cross county boundaries and therefore feature more than once in the Schedules.

The eventual number of SACs will marginally increase when further marine sites are added. The amount of land subject to this designation will not change significantly.

Some 135 SPAs, of an eventual network of 153 sites, have already been classified in accordance with the terms of the Birds Directive, as clarified by the European Court of Justice in its judgment against Ireland in case 418/04. Eighteen SPAs remain to be notified and this will happen over the coming weeks as the scientific data and maps for the sites are finalised.

Ireland is obliged under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives to base its site designations programme on scientific criteria. In addition, rulings of the European Court of Justice have clarified that member States may not take account of economic, social and cultural requirements when selecting sites of community importance or classifying SPAs.

National Parks & Wildlife Service

Schedule 1 – Special Areas of Conservation

Date 21/06/2011. Based on 1:10,560 series, Irish Grid map projection.

County codes

National Parks & Wildlife Service

Schedule 2 – Special Protection Areas

Date 21/06/2011. Based on 1:10,560 series, Irish Grid map projection.

County codes