Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 974: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extra staffing or resources that have been allocated to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to enable it to ensure designation and protection of sites in accordance with the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11825/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have significantly increased the budgetary allocations in respect of the work undertaken by my Department's national parks and wildlife service (NPWS) including work in relation to the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. The 2008 allocation for the service is €46.66 million, an increase of 31% on last year's allocation and this provision compares with €16.81 million in 2001. The NPWS discharges its obligations under the Habitats and Birds Directives in a wide variety of ways including work carried out directly by Department staff, outsourcing of work especially scientific and survey measures, purchase of land and turbary rights and agreements with landowners which protect habitats and species. Over 300 permanent staff and up to 70 seasonal staff are normally deployed to carry out NPWS responsibilities including designation and protection work required by the Habitats and Birds Directives. At present the obligations which arise in relation to implementation of the two Directives are priorities in the work of NPWS. We have made significant progress on the implementation of the Directives. The designations for the Habitats Directive are largely complete, with 423 candidate Special Areas of Conservation transmitted to the European Commission last year. A small number of marine sites remain to be designated. Following the ruling by the European Court of Justice in December 2007 in relation to Ireland's compliance with the Birds Directive, some additional areas will be required to be designated as Special Protection Areas for certain species of birds. A programme of designation is being developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and the Commission.