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

I thank the Deputy for her questions. I will address the last question first.

Specifically on this World Wildlife Day 2022, we will be announcing some measures in the partnerships that we have with Fáilte Ireland in the management of our nature reserves. Throughout the Covid-19 period we have seen a very significant demand from the public to be out in nature. That has created great pressures on our nature reserves and on our national parks. It is something that we are conscious of and in which we have invested significantly, particularly in managing trails and walkways but the car parking issue is something that is altogether different. In some of our national parks we are trying to use sustainable mobility, be it shuttle buses etc., but it is a persistent problem.

On the question of the on-site activities having a potentially negative impact on Lough Hyne, we are working through our National Parks and Wildlife Service to have more staff on the ground. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, approved the appointment of additional conservation rangers, many of whom are now in place now and that will significantly help in the day-to-day management of very important sites like this.

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