Vol. 543 No. 4
16 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the additional staff which will be provided to deal with the additional workload arising from the commencement of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27151/01]
As is the case in many other areas, while additional resources could be put to good use in the area of nature conservation, 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 enforcement of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000.
This gradualist approach has ensured that the sector is now better and more effectively resourced than ever before. To provide just one illustration, since taking office I have authorised the employment of an extra 30 conservation rangers which has significantly increased the strength of the corps to 90 rangers. The number of administrative and scientific staff supporting the rangers has been increased by 24 since I took office. This figure includes three regionally based ecologists who will be on site to deal with issues as they arise. I have also recently obtained approval to recruit six additional ecologists.
For this reason, I take the view that the existing staff resources should suffice for the time being to deal with the special areas of conservation – SAC – designations and the Department's general functions in relation to wildlife and the management and supervision of other protected areas, including national parks, nature reserves and refuges for fauna.
It is my intention that the designation of NHAs will proceed on a phased basis in conjunction with SAC designations where possible and that staff dealing with SACs in their early phases of designation may be transferred, as their services become available, to deal with the ongoing process of NHA designation. This approach will ensure that the provisions of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, are implemented in an efficient as well as a timely manner.
This question refers to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, and its implementation. The important issues are enforcement and proper policing. Has an in-depth study been carried out in the Department on the manpower needed to police and enforce the provisions of the Act, including those on SACs and national heritage areas? My great fear is that, while the legislation is very welcome and well structured, it is worthless if we cannot police and enforce its provisions.
Where there have been staffing deficiencies they have been identified and I have addressed them. I caution against the idea that conservation is solely reliant on resources available to Dúchas, the heritage service. There are other State agencies with an important role to play in the process of preserving our environment. Enforcement is just one factor in the equation. In our earlier discussion of wetlands we referred to the importance of education. There has been a change in culture and the need for responsible and sustainable development has been realised and must be pursued.
Following an organisational review of Dúchas by consultants an extensive restructuring package of proposals, including significant extra staffing was developed by management with considerable staff input. Unfortunately, one of the principal unions representing staff in Dúchas did not agree with the package. The consultants are continuing with the review in order to overcome any difficulties that have been identified. It is too early to anticipate the outcome.
The Minister rightly pointed out that the enforcement and policing function for the environment does not rest with her Department alone or with Dúchas alone. Would she agree that there is a very strong case for maximising the effect of resources, that there should be a strong interdepartmental group to co-ordinate activities and to stretch the effectiveness of the various enforcement agencies, in the public interest?
I certainly agree with the general principle of what Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister referred to as " joined-up government". We should not have tunnel vision in this matter. I am sure the Deputy agrees there are many concerns and many responsibilities in all Departments. It is most important to make the connections and to set up any interdepartmental body that is necessary in order to pursue that agenda. Such interdepartmental groups and bodies exist for that purpose.
