Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2019
20. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her current and planned activities to protect Ireland’s biodiversity including initiatives in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8701/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for implementing the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2018, the primary legislation underpinning the protection of biodiversity and nature in Ireland. The Wildlife Acts afford protection to a range of habitats and species and provide for regulation and control of activities that impinge on biodiversity, such as hunting and trade.
The legislative framework in place to protect biodiversity is further strengthened by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 SI No 477/2011, which also fall under the remit of my Department. These Regulations transpose the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive into national law, and provide for protection of certain habitats and species across the European Union and give a framework for specific measures to be taken to target areas of concern in each Member State. The main instruments provided for are the designation of Special Protection Areas (SPA) aimed at the protection of threatened species of birds and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) aimed at protecting other animal species and habitats.
My Department is also responsible for developing and publishing Ireland's National Biodiversity Action Plan. The most recent Plan (Ireland's 3rd) was published in October 2017 and includes a number of actions aimed at assisting local authorities throughout the country in their efforts to protect and conserve biodiversity in their areas. Local authorities undertake much valuable work in this sphere and several, including Kildare County Council, have produced local Biodiversity Action Plans which are an important element in the overall approach to halting biodiversity loss.
My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service will continue to monitor and protect biodiversity in County Kildare through the implementation of the existing legislative framework and in particular will continue to protect and enhance the habitat and species within the designated European Sites listed for County Kildare. These comprise seven Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and one Special Protection Area (SPA).
As it does on a national level, my Department will also continue to advise on planning, forestry and EPA licence applications in Kildare. It also engages in wildlife surveys and monitoring, carries out stakeholder liaison and maintains its educational role. My Department also has a remit to comment on a variety of licences under the Wildlife Acts with the aim of helping to protect Kildare’s biodiversity.
In support of the work carried out by local authorities, I announced yesterday at the National Biodiversity Conference in Dublin Castle, a commitment in the coming years to double the funding my Department makes available for local Heritage and Biodiversity Officers to implement biodiversity actions at local level and to tackle invasive species. A pilot grant scheme was introduced in 2018 to assist local authority led biodiversity projects and I am pleased that we are in a position to extend this scheme in 2019. While many local authorities, including Kildare County Council, were not in a position to avail of this funding in 2018, I look forward to an increased take-up of the funding available in 2019.
I look forward to local authorities using the funding available for projects aimed at tackling invasive alien species in their areas. Invasive alien species are a significant threat to our biodiversity and can also have significant adverse effects in terms of the cost involved in implementing eradication or management measures. I want therefore to enable locally led works and also to raise awareness around invasive alien species and biodiversity matters more generally.
My Department is also preparing legislation to implement certain provisions of the EU IAS Regulation and this new legislation will strengthen and update existing legislative provisions around the management and control of invasive alien species in Ireland.
Finally, as well as funding commitments to support efforts to halt biodiversity loss, announced at the National Biodiversity Conference yesterday, I also announced a range of additional measures, 10 Seeds for Nature, that will raise awareness of biodiversity and strengthen the operational framework governing implementation of the legislative framework that is already in place.
