Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is fantastic to see the publication of the strategic plan of the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for the NPWS and the publication of the independent review that underpins it. I am aware that delivering on this programme for Government commitment has been the Minister of State's top priority since he took office. That the action plan is resourced by the Government, with €55 million over the next three budgets, makes this achievement all the more significant. I commend the Minister of State and his Department on everything they have done to achieve this outcome.

Biodiversity is an issue that goes to the Green Party's very core. Originally the party was called the Ecology Party. As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, I would like to see biodiversity elevated as an issue across government in the same that climate has been. The climate and biodiversity crises are inextricably linked and our responses must be joined up, but it is also vital that we address biodiversity in and of itself.

Today we are seeing the impact of the many years of underfunding of the NPWS and the lack of focus on biodiversity more generally emerging as a potential risk to climate action. The Minister of State is keenly aware of this and is moving fast and doing all he can to address the issue. Substantially increased NPWS budgets and addressing staffing challenges are paramount. The additional resources provided for in the action plan will foster greater confidence in climate-critical areas, such as the designation of offshore protected areas and the protection and restoration of our upland habitats and the species they are home to.

Increased investment in NPWS staffing and the restructuring of the organisation along functional lines will also help restore nature in agricultural landscapes through highly effective programmes such as the NPWS farm plan scheme. I realise numbers are currently small for this project; however, in the context of the EU nature restoration law and our objectives around species and habitat conservation, it is exactly these kinds of bespoke farm-level initiatives that will work to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes for biodiversity and for rural communities.

On this note, last week's announcement of the €20 million LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project to restore blanket bog in the agricultural landscapes of rural north-west Ireland is designed to put communities at its heart. Co-ordinated by the NPWS's scientific unit, it utilises results-based payment schemes to pay farmers for the quality of the habitats they create. The average annual payment for the farmers involved to date is €3,200. This is real money, delivering a real impact for nature, water, the climate and people. It is clear that a comparatively small investment in the NPWS can have enormous benefits for the country. I hope the investment in the NPWS teams that co-ordinate and lead on projects like this will be part of the action plan.

I spoke last week about some of the lost opportunities in the CAP strategic plan to address biodiversity. While we know the CAP cannot do everything, it can definitely do more than is currently provided for. I hope there will be some improvement in the eco-schemes, in particular, before the final version is signed off, especially for farmers in designated areas. There is a huge missed opportunity in the CAP to make sure resources are used to support farmers to protect, conserve and restore nature and deliver on the Government's prioritised action framework for the Natura network of special areas of conservation and special protection areas. By resourcing the NPWS, I hope there will be more capacity within the organisation to engage at all levels in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to influence and support nature-positive action in the next CAP and help the Department to ensure it delivers on Ireland's biodiversity obligations.

Bog rehabilitation is now ongoing, which is very welcome. From the perspective of the regulator for the Bord na Móna restoration and rehabilitation programme, it is hoped that the investment in the NPWS will support more and faster rewetting of peatlands, not just on State land but also across other parts of Ireland. It would be great to see strategic alignment with the private sector, as we have seen in other countries. A peatland code for Ireland could unlock substantial finance for investment in rural communities, supporting biodiversity and climate action at the same time. We have already seen Intel piloting support for blanket-bog restoration in Wicklow Mountains National Park. All these opportunities exist, and I hope the new NPWS will be configured in such a way as to seize them.

It is reassuring to see that addressing wildlife crime has also been elevated in recent times. It is great to see that there are more cases being brought by the NPWS and more successful convictions, in addition to more awareness of the issue. The co-ordination of efforts on wildlife crime among NPWS staff across the country is delivering genuine results. The recent memorandum of understanding involving An Garda Síochána will also help ensure better outcomes for nature.

It is a failure of enforcement that so many wildlife crimes have been committed in recent years. Additional resources in this area will go a long way to reducing the number of these crimes. Some 110 staff, including district conservation officers and conservation rangers, are working across the country to address wildlife crime. Since December 2020, conservation ranger numbers have increased by 18%. There are currently 86 conservation rangers stationed around the country to enforce wildlife laws, and they are supported by district conservation officers, regional managers and divisional managers. I understand the Minister intends to further increase ranger numbers up to 120, which is a welcome development.

It is reassuring that fines are increasing, more commensurate with the seriousness of the crimes committed, and receiving media coverage, again raising awareness of the law in this area. In addition to fines, however, we need habitat reinstatement. It is not enough just to pay fines; habitats must be restored as best as possible so that it never pays to commit a wildlife crime.

I hosted the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, in Limerick in 2020. It was his first trip as a Minister of State. I have seen his commitment and dedication and know how enthusiastic he is about natural and built heritage. It is a credit to him that this strategic action plan has been delivered to such enthusiastic support from across all sectors, not least the NGOs and the wider environmental movement. I commend him and the departmental officials on their hard work.

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