Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 25 June 2024
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government
National Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Review: Discussion
3:00 pm
Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú:
I will take that one, if I may. The Deputy may rest assured that any kind of nature value area is on our radar, as The Gearagh unquestionably is. The requirements of our companies change over time. I would argue that in some contexts, nature probably trumps a lot of utility issues right now, but it is certainly on our agenda.
I am not familiar with the Glen, but we will make ourselves familiar with it and revert to the committee or the Deputy in regard to it. As I said, high nature value areas always interest us, especially if we can hit that sweet spot between protecting and minding the nature and community use.
On fires, there are now extensive fire patrols in the air, and I think we have got better at education about fires. Maybe there could be more preventative actions as well as the education actions, but that eye in the sky is very important for the early detection of fires, the engagement with the fire services and so forth. That eye in the sky does not discriminate between land that is owned by us or that is in SACs.
If the eye in the sky detects fire, it reports to our colleagues on the ground and the fire services. If it is our property, the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be on the ground dealing with it with the fire services.
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