Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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491. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of allocated conservation ranger positions in County Kerry; if these posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22079/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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492. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of district conservation officers who are undertaking duties of lower grades including conservation rangers by county or local authority area in tabular form. [22080/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together.

For reasons of operational security, the Department does not provide details of staffing in the manner requested.  Some 368 staff work in the area of natural heritage through the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.I am not aware of any District Conservation Officer  undertaking the duties of lower grades including Conservation Rangers.However, in areas without dedicated Ranger coverage, it is common practice for higher manager grades, particularly District Conservation Officers to provide cover as part of their duties.

A recruitment competition for Conservation Rangers being run by the Public Appointments Service is currently at an advanced stage. I have asked my Department to accelerate appointments from this panel, with the recruitment of a further 60 Rangers. Any appointments across the country made from this panel will take account of both the business needs and financial resources to meet pay costs in the context of Government policy on public sector pay and staffing.