Results 81-100 of 2,750 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1178, 1180, 1257, 1259 and 1262 together. Asian Hornets pose a significant threat to biodiversity in Ireland as even a single nest can devastate honeybee populations. My Department responded rapidly to a confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet in Cork last month. The Asian Hornet Management Group is a rapid interdepartmental response resource mobilised...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department recently conducted a public consultation on proposed designations of Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs). The consultation was not concerned with proposed amendments to water quality standards. The purpose of the HMWB consultation was to gather the public’s views on the proposed designation of Heavily Modified Water Bodies, where they have been physically modified in...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: I refer to my reply to Questions No's 252 of 22 May 2025, 526 of 17 June 2025 and 246 of 10 July 2025, which sets out the position in this matter. To progress this application under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, my Department issued further correspondence and a map to the applicant on 26 June 2025. The applicant made contact with the Department on 11 August 2025 and...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1216, 1220 and 1221 together. The National Peatlands Strategy 2015-2025 was established in partnership between relevant Government Departments, State bodies and key stakeholders to provide better overall direction to Ireland’s approach to peatland conservation. A mid-term review of the strategy was published in 2023 following extensive public...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: In 2021, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, with support from the Intel Corporation, commenced preparations for the restoration of approximately 60 hectares of blanket bog at Liffey Head in the Wicklow Mountains Special Area of Conservation. 18 months of technical baseline investigations were undertaken. Due to the complexity of the ground conditions encountered during...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of legislation around invasive alien species including the new European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 which were introduced in July 2024. These regulations give full effect to the EU IAS Regulation (1143/2014) in the national context and also update and strengthen the existing...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: The EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) entered into force on 18 August 2024. It sets out a framework for EU Member States to restore nature, with binding targets for the restoration of a wide range of ecosystems including rivers, forests, oceans, urban and agricultural areas, as well as protected habitats and species. Ireland has until 1 September 2026 to submit a draft National Restoration...