Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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215. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of kilometres squared that are designated as marine protected areas (MPAs); if further proposals will be submitted to OSPAR for further designations of MPAs within Ireland’s EEZ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59765/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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At present there are no marine protected areas (MPAs) designated in Ireland’s maritime area, pending the publication and subsequent enactment of the necessary legislation that is currently being progressed by my Department. There are collectively over 160 sites designated with marine qualifying interests under the EU Birds Directive (i.e. Special Protection Areas) and EU Habitats Directive (i.e. Special Areas of Conservation). The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the competent Minister with responsibility for such designations, both current and ongoing, and therefore would be better placed to provide detail of the area of these protected areas in square kilometres. It is expected that further nominations of MPAs in Ireland’s maritime area to the OSPAR network of MPAs will be forthcoming in due course on a case by case basis, informed by the ongoing legislative and designation processes.