Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Today's announcement of almost €96 million, an overall increase of 51%, recognises the vital role played by our natural and built heritage in supporting the physical and mental well-being of the nation and in realising many of the commitments set out in the programme for Government. The €95.95 million announced today will support an accelerated programme of conservation health and safety visitor and infrastructure projects across the 87,000 ha national parks and reserves network and leverage support for rural employment. Our parks and reserves which are, and will remain, free to access are on track to receive more than 4 million visitors in 2020. This is only likely to increase in 2021. This funding will allow my Department to invest in our tracks and trails, visitor facilities and interpretatiion to meet that demand in a Covid-safe way.

We are in the midst of a biodiversity and climate crisis and this funding reflects the programme for Government response to both these areas. Combined current capital funding of almost €29 million for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, represents a significant increase ,112% or €15.3 million on 2020. This increase will allow my Department to be even more ambitious in its implementation of the national biodiversity plan and related commitments in the programme for Government.

I am delighted that an additional 250 farms will have the opportunity to join the NPWS farm plan scheme and that, as a crucial step, the farmers, as custodians of nature, are brought on board this scheme.

Peatlands are among our oldest natural habitats, and we all know it is the time of great transition in this area. Increased funding to €14 million will enable the restoration of 2,500 ha of protected raised bogs across the midlands and will contribute to long-term carbon emissions reductions. My Department's built and archaeological capital grant scheme will reach into communities right across the country, providing over 35,000 days employment annually for the many small businesses, skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople involved in heritage-related construction activity, and the tourism hospitality sector. It also plays a key role in our town centres first policy, unlocking the potential of historic town centres and traditional skills.

The figure of almost €9.6 million announced for the Heritage Council is the largest allocation of core funding to the council since 2009. Funding of €1.15 million to the Irish Heritage Trust will allow it to continue essential conservation works across its properties.

Finally, the budget will enable Waterways Ireland to continue to invest in the essential maintenance of its networks North and South of the Border and to enhance the blueways and greenways that have become even more essential to the health and well-being of the nation over the past months.

The increased funding allocated to my Department today demonstrates that this Government is committed to playing its part. If the Ireland we all inhabit today is to remain viable for those who follow us, we must do something. This budget and the programme for Government that framed it demonstrate that we are acting. The heritage sector, which encompasses our built and natural heritage, our land and its history, is who we are and who we were; it is vital to our identity, our story, and our spirit of well-being. It contributes to our national health, enjoyment, the environment and sustainable development. It has faced many challenges in crisis before and I have every confidence in the staff in my Department and the wider heritage sector that supported it, that we will overcome it, and face today what is to come.

The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and I have secured a budget allocation reflective of the need for urgent action to reverse biodiversity loss, restore nature, protect our rivers, coasts and marine areas as well as our lands, and help transform our relationship with the natural world.

See this speech in context