Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, for delivering this action plan. I know an incredible amount of work went into it. I am delighted to see the work that has been done on heritage, including natural heritage, and the move by the NPWS back to Custom House. Today shows the wisdom of that move, which was decided upon when the Government was being formed. I want to put on record the huge credit that is due to the Minister of State's adviser, Hannah Hamilton, and to Ciara Carberry for the work they did on the plan. A huge amount of work has gone into it over the past year or so. It is a fantastic result for nature. Above all, I play credit to the NPWS staff up and down the country, who are passionate about their work but have struggled for years with funding and resource cuts. That has been very difficult for them and I am glad to see it being turned around.

I am lucky to live in County Wicklow, where we have a fine national park. I have seen at first hand the work done by the rangers there, led by Wesley Atkinson, Enda Mullen and others. I thank them for the way they engage with the community, local representatives and community groups and the work they do to protect and enhance our natural landscapes, biodoversity and nature in general. They are a real credit to County Wicklow and I am delighted to work with them and to see them being recognised and rewarded in this way. Over the past decade, it has been extremely difficult for them to provide the service to which they are dedicated. They are passionate about this issue and have studied it and worked in this area all their lives. The service suffered huge funding cuts over the decades and the staff have been moved from pillar to post in terms of departmental oversight. That has had a real impact on morale and has been very frustrating for them. Today, we see that being turned around as we look to the future.

NPWS staff do vital work to protect nature, help us to understand the importance of our environment and how it impacts on us health-wise, including our mental health, and educate us on all the benefits of living in a clean and healthy environment. What has happened to Knocksink Wood Education Centre in Enniskerry is symbolic of the neglect of and decline in our environment.

The education centre is located in Knocksink Wood, which is a special area of conservation. It is overgrown and the building is in a state of decay. I remember when the education centre was thriving. It was full of children, school tours, researchers and academics. I did some work up there over the years. I have hope for that centre again. It symbolises that there has been decades of neglect but that we are going turn it around now. I hope to see the centre up and running and thriving again, and children doing their kick samples in the river, looking at insects and learning all about the importance and range of nature and biodiversity we have right outside our door. Sometimes we do not realise it.

I also want to salute the great work done by and perseverance of Professor Jane Stout, Dr. Micheál Ó Cinnéide and Mr. Gerry Kearney. We were delighted to invite them to a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I can say, without exception, there was absolute cross-party support and praise for the NPWS. Members wanted to see further investment and expansion and acknowledged the important work the service does. There was cross-party support for that. Too often in politics, we hear kind words and support and people saying that they support you and want to do more for you. Often, words are not followed up with actions. Not this time, however. As a Green Party Deputy, I am especially happy to see what the Minister of State has brought to the floor of the Oireachtas.

I say to people who care deeply about the environment and who demand action to halt the losses, help nature and address the impact of pollution and pesticides, the loss and fragmentation of habitats, the affect of invasive species, the need for climate action and everything that has an impact on our natural environment and to those who call on us to inform, educate and help people to understand the complex intricacies of nature and how we are all part of it, rather than separate from it, that this is where we delivered on those promises. This is the point at which we turned and faced the problem. This is where we provided a fit-for-purpose NPWS for those staff who have struggled over the years. I thank those people who pushed us to do it. I thank the environmental NGOs who pushed us to do it. I acknowledge their praise of this. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for never giving up on this green priority.

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