Vol. 534 No. 1
187 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if a national biodiversity plan is being prepared; the consultations which have taken place with agencies other than State agencies in the preparation of the plan; and when it is expected that the plan will be published. [10096/01]
My Department is in the process of preparing a national biodiversity action plan which is now at an advanced stage. The preparation of the plan involved an extended formal public consultation process to which many organisations and individuals responded. Also, officials of my Department met with key NGOs in January and explained in considerable detail the format and general approach of the draft plan. In addition, when the plan is published the NGOs will be invited to participate in the ongoing monitoring and review which is an integral part of the plan. I am most anxious to have the national biodiversity action plan published and adopted as policy at the earliest possible date and it is my intention to seek Government approval for its publication in the very near future. At this stage, time is of the essence if we are to ensure that due regard will be given to protection of biodiversity in the context of the extensive programme of works being undertaken under the national development plan and the accelerated pace of development generally as a consequence of unprecedented levels of economic growth.
