Results 61-80 of 2,737 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Under my Department, the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), and the qualifying works for both of these...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Invasive Species Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The process of adding any species to the list of invasive alien species of national concern requires a risk assessment of that species to be undertaken to ensure that the scientific evidence demands its inclusion. Once this is completed, a Statutory Instrument to amend the First Schedule to the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 and the Third Schedule to the European...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Special Areas of Conservation (18 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 266 and 267 together. Under the European Union’s Habitats Directive, transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), Ireland is required to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for the protection of endangered habitats and species as listed in the Directive....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Special Areas of Conservation (18 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. The national monitoring network for Alluvial woodland was derived from the National Survey of Native Woodlands dataset, which is based on objective scientific grounds, using the criteria described in the report - O’Neill, F.H. & Barron, S.J. (2013) Results of monitoring survey of old sessile oak woods and alluvial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Parks and Wildlife Service (18 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) maintains databases and other resources holding ecological information on designated and non-designated areas. Such information has been compiled from various sources - surveys, publications, unpublished reports, herbaria and as notified to the NPWS, amongst others. Information on sites that may be proposed as Sites of Community Importance (SCIs)...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Inquiries (18 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I have been advised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), who are responsible for maintaining this site, that, as in previous years, an entrance/exit route was cleared in May 2025 when conditions allowed in order to provide access to boatmen. This area is in an SAC and, as such, the findings of ongoing investigations are vital to the creation of a long term solution to this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Heritage Schemes (18 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) within my Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), which are both, in the main, administered by the local authorities. The BHIS provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (17 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 659 and 664 together. The first nest was located in a private garden in Cork city on 28 August 2025. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department put in place a protocol, including risk assessment, to ensure the safe and efficient removal of the nest. International best practice was followed during this operation, and technical support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (17 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 679, 680 and 681 together. In July this year I launched the www.worldheritageireland.ie/strategy-for-world-heritage-in-i reland-2025-2035/ Ireland’s first national strategy for UNESCO World Heritage. The first action of the Strategy commits to undertaking an extensive review of Ireland’s Tentative List by 2030, ensuring other sites have an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (17 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Glenveagh National Park remains open to visitors seven days a week all year around and, as with all National Parks managed by the NPWS, entry is free to the public. In addition to amenities such as walks, trails, viewing points and toilets, the Visitor/Exhibition Centre, Castle Gardens and shuttle bus remain available to the public almost every day of the year with an on-site café also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (17 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) within my Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), which are both, in the main, administered by the local authorities. The BHIS provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (17 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The number of Irish Wetland Bird Survey I-WeBS sites listed in Parliamentary Question No. 1308 of 8 September 2025 refers to unique I-WeBS sites surveyed per survey season. A large proportion of these sites are comprised of two or more sub-sites, with around 250 sites and 750 sub-sites surveyed per annum. All Special Protection Areas (SPAs) that fall under the contract for survey are subject...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (17 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The details sought on the projects approved for funding in principle under my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme referred to the question are set out in the table below: Location Local authority Number of existing houses Ballygawley Sligo 53 Broadford Clare 90 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The restoration of the Ulster Canal is a major cross-border project principally funded by the Shared Island Fund and my Department. The project is being delivered by Waterways Ireland, in three phases:Phase 1 from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson (completed in 2019)Phase 2 from Clones to Clonfad (completed June 2024), andPhase 3 Castle Saunderson to Clonfad (underway).Phase 3 is the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: There is no plan to alter the permit requirements for applications under Section 42 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended. All questions asked and data gathered is necessary in order to accurately assess the application and where a licence is issued, for the successful enforcement of that licence.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Properties (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Heritage Division of my Department has properties and land held in connection with the National Parks & Wildlife Service’s functions around nature conservation and the management of the National Parks and Reserves network. All lands owned by the Minister and managed by the NPWS are in use for nature conservation purposes or as part of the National Parks and Reserves...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Owners of domestic wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, are responsible for their proper operation and maintenance. To support them, my Department provides targeted grants of up to €12,000 for the repair or replacement of systems that are defective or no longer fit for purpose. These grants are focused on where they are most urgently needed and can achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department is responsible for water protection and nature protection. These responsibilities include the implementation of river basin management planning under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the implementation of requirements arising out of the Habitats Directive and the Nature Restoration Regulations. The Water Action Plan 2024 published by my Department sets out a roadmap...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) on behalf of my Department is responsible for the regulation, inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. The European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 provide the legislative basis for the inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. These Regulations give effect to EU Directive 1999/22/EC (the Zoo...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Conservation works to properties included on a local authority's Record of Protected Structures and certain other historic structures may be eligible for funding from my Department under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme or the Historic Structures Fund. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000 for a wide range of...