Special Protection Area
type: Dataset
description: The EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) requires designation of SPAs for: listed rare and vulnerable species; regularly occurring migratory species, such as ducks, geese and waders; wetlands, especially those of international importance, which attract large numbers of migratory birds each year. (Inte...
description: This dataset covers Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) in Ireland. SPAs are designated to protect listed rare and vulnerable bird species, regularly occurring migratory species such as ducks, geese and waders, and wetlands, especially those of international importance that attract large numbers of migratory birds annually. The dataset provides spatial boundaries and related information for these protected sites at national level. It is published via data.gov.ie, with the Marine Institute listed as the associated institution.
landing page: https://data.gov.ie/dataset/special-protection-area
spatial: IRL
access rights: PUBLIC
distribution: View and Download data
distribution: WMS GetCapabilities
distribution: WMS GetMap
issued: 2026-07-02T11:58:46.529Z
modified: 2026-08-16T12:24:46.615Z
is part of: catalog

View and Download data
type: Distribution
access URL: https://www.npws.ie/maps-and-data/designated-site-data/download-boundary-data
format: html

WMS GetCapabilities
type: Distribution
access URL: http://webservices.npws.ie/arcgis/services/NPWS/NPWSDesignatedAreas/MapServer/WMSServer
format: wms

WMS GetMap
type: Distribution
access URL: http://webservices.npws.ie/arcgis/rest/services/NPWS/NPWSDesignatedAreas/MapServer/0
format: wms

Marine Institute
type: Organization