Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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269. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service will conclude; the amount budgeted in budget 2021 to carry out subsequent changes and reforms as a result of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42938/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to review the remit, status and funding of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to ensure that it is playing an effective role in delivering its overall mandate and enforcement role in the protection of wildlife. I have decided that the review should be headed by an independent chairperson overseeing a triptych review process. I am engaging with my officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service in discussing the review further and am currently considering options with regard to the Terms of Reference and stakeholder engagement.

The review is expected to begin early in 2021 and be concluded within the year. With regard to potential future costings for any changes and reforms arising from the review these, of course, will be dependent on both the outcome of the Review and the annual Budgetary process.