National Parks and Wildlife Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Ceisteanna (238)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

238. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. [2740/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Malcolm Noonan)

There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to review the remit, status and funding of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to ensure that it is playing an effective role in delivering its overall mandate and enforcement role in the protection of wildlife. As explained in my response to PQ 35989/20 in November 2020 I have decided that the review should be headed by an independent chairperson overseeing a triptych review process which will have a target completion date of Summer 2021. I am advancing the appointment of a Chair who will be instrumental in the finalising of the Terms of Reference for the Review and the stakeholder engagement process.