Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself with the progress in dealing with the 91 actions listed under Ireland's national biodiversity plan, published in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36672/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that the interim review of the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan 2002-06, which I launched on 4 November 2005, demonstrates a significant level of progress in implementing the 91 actions of the plan. The interim review indicates that 23 of the actions have been completed, implementation is ongoing in the case of a further 60 of the actions, and further work is required in respect of eight of the actions.

At the launch of the interim review, I announced a total of 13 new initiatives designed to provide a renewed momentum to the implementation of the plan for the future. These initiatives include the establishment of a dedicated biodiversity unit in my Department, which also acts as chair of the interdepartmental steering group which oversees implementation of the plan; the establishment of a new biodiversity fund of €1 million, spread over 2006-2007; the establishment of a biodiversity forum as a standing committee of Comhar, the national sustainable development partnership; and the establishment of a biological records centre as an essential mechanism and resource for documentation, monitoring and research in the area of biodiversity. I am confident that these and the other initiatives which I have announced will ensure the effective ongoing implementation of the national biodiversity plan.