The Irish index of common birds increased from 100 in 1998 to 104.6 in 2014.

• A European index of Common Farmland Birds, based on data for 39 species and 20 EU member states is available for the years 2000 to 2013. The EU average has declined from a base of 100 in the year 2000 to 84.4 in 2013.

• Ireland, at 13.6% in 2011, had the ninth smallest area in the EU designated as a Special Protected Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive. Slovenia at 35.2% had the largest area of land classified as SPA’s in 2011.

• In 2013, Ireland had 13.1% of its land area designated as Special Conservation Areas under the EU Habitats Directive. This was the 8^th smallest rate in the EU and below the European average of 18.4%

• Ireland had 759 national monuments in 2016. County Galway had the highest number with 88.

• There were 42,192 protected structures recorded in Ireland in 2014. Of these 11,983 or 29% were in Dublin.

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