National Biodiversity Plan.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 April 2008

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Questions (31)

Brian O'Shea

Question:

88 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the relevant Government Departments and State agencies that are required to prepare their own biodiversity plans and the creation of a biodiversity unit or post under the national biodiversity plan; the steps his Department has taken to give support to the relevant Departments and agencies in the development of the sectoral biodiversity plans in accordance with its responsibility under the national biodiversity plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14466/08]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley)

When the National Biodiversity Plan was published in April 2002, the Departments and state agencies that were required to produce sectoral action plans were not specified. The responsibilities of various Departments have evolved and changed in the intervening time, and it is a matter for each Department or agency to identify the need for the creation of biodiversity posts or the development of action plans. My Department chairs an Inter-Departmental Steering Group, which oversees the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan. The following Departments are currently represented on this Group: Finance; Arts, Sport and Tourism; Social and Family Affairs; Foreign Affairs; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Defence; Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Health and Children; Transport; Education and Science; as well as the Revenue Commissioners; and the Office of Public Works. In April 2005, my Department issued guidelines to all Government Departments to assist the preparation of sectoral biodiversity action plans.