Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
838. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the resources that are available to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to respond to threats to natural heritage and biodiversity within the national parks and nature reserves including coastlines; if the service is adequately resourced for summer fires; the additional resources that have been put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41857/22]
View answerThe Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) sets out an ambitious timeline for a full organisational restructuring of the NPWS, and a substantial €55 million additional investment in the organisation across three budgetary cycles, together with the accelerated early recruitment of at least 60 key staff for critically important roles.
This Plan aims to deliver a NPWS that is more resilient, better resourced, and better equipped to play its part in Ireland’s response to the biodiversity emergency on the national and international stage. It will equip the NPWS with the organisational capability and supporting structures to enable it to deliver its mandate in protecting our natural heritage.
Additional resources are being recruited across all grades and specialisms and I have secured agreement to increase the number of conservation rangers from 83 to 120 and work is underway with the Public Appointments Service to achieve this.
The primary responsibility in terms of fire fighting lies with the Fire Service. Staff of the NPWS remain vigilant, however, whenever conditions conducive to fires are prevalent (e.g. Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s weather warnings), including carrying out and overseeing increased patrols, surveillance flyovers and other measures.
In relation to fires, I must stress that this cannot be seen as just a matter for any one Department; but rather as a matter for all citizens. The principle challenge is to encourage members of the public, (including landowners, farmers and recreational users of publicly accessible land), to act responsibly at all times, to be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, to be mindful of the need to protect property, both publicly owned and privately owned and to appreciate the value of our natural heritage, particularly in our National Parks, Nature Reserves and Designated (Natura 2000) Sites.
The NPWS continues to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and An Garda Síochána, as appropriate, to investigate the causes of such fires in our National Parks and designated sites and, where evidence is forthcoming, to pursue appropriate enforcement under the Wildlife Acts or other legislation. The prosecution of those responsible is primarily a matter for the Gardaí. My Department, through its NPWS staff, cooperates fully with any Garda investigations and any other investigations that may be initiated by other statutory bodies. Where appropriate, my Department pursues cross compliance with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
