Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

336 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the scientific staff available to her to implement the European habitats and birds directives; the vacancies recently occurring; and her plans to expand the expertise available to her to ensure the full implementation of European directives and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. [30556/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

My general approach to staffing this sector has been to build up resources over time to address the growing volume of work involved in safeguarding our wildlife and important habitats, including responsibilities arising in connection with implementation and enforcement of the EU habitats and birds directives and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. This approach has ensured that this sector is now better and more effectively resourced than ever before.

There are 19 posts for ecologists in Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, in the conservation science sections of national parks and wildlife. Two of these posts are currently vacant. I have sought and obtained approval for six additional posts in this area and arrangements to fill the vacant and additional posts by public competition are currently under way. Scientific work arising under our national and international obli gations is also undertaken by an extensive national network of field staff ranging from divisional managers to conservation rangers and including three regional ecologists. Of 118 posts allocated, there are currently seven vacancies and replacement staff are being recruited to fill these posts. The work of both the research and field staff is supported by an additional ecologist based in the heritage policy and legislation unit of my Department.