Dáil debates

Wednesday, 17 June 2020

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements

 

12:35 pm

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a challenge and we are fully aware of it and dealing with it all the time.

One of Deputy Mairéad Farrell's questions relates more to the cultural capital scheme, which runs up to 2022. It would be worth looking at that to address some of the matters she is talking about. The Minister of State, Senator Kyne, will be in front of the Covid-19 committee tomorrow to discuss Gaeltacht issues.

The Deputy also mentioned mapping. The National Monuments Service recently won an innovation award for its map viewer and other online resources. That is a positive development.

In the context of the arts, the report, Engaging the Public on Climate Change through the Cultural and Creative Sectors, is a really innovative and exciting document that the Department put together in the context of trying to connect climate change mitigation and adaptation. If the Deputy wishes to have a copy, I can certainly furnish it to her.

As regards Deputy Ó Snodaigh's questions, the programme for Government seeks a review of the all-Ireland pollinator plan so we will be looking at that. My Department also published a report this week confirming the resurgence of the red squirrel and the pine marten, which the Deputy mentioned. Some 31 of our local authorities have heritage officers, but there are one or two that do not have biodiversity officers, so that needs to be rectified. We give €1 million a year to deal with invasive species. I know the Deputy played a very important role on the Moore Street advisory group and I am in the process of setting up its successor.

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