Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 328 of 5 May 2021, the number of the 60 new conservation rangers being recruited presently that will be assigned to Killarney National Park; if a timeframe for the recruitment process will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27903/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The national recruitment process for conservation rangers was advertised late last year and is being managed bythe Public Appointments Service. The recruitment is at an advanced stage and candidates are currently being interviewed.

Frontline conservation rangers are deployed through a regional structure and assignments are determined in light of Departmental business needs and priorities. A calibrated proportion of the expansion of the ranger cohort will be assigned to Killarney National Park as with all our other national parks and nature reserves in the ownership and care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

While it is too early to be specific as to the exact number of additional rangers to be assigned to the Southern Region and Killarney National Park, the proportion of rangers to be assigned to Killarney National Park will be pitched at a level commensurate to meet the conservation needs of this internationally recognised natural habitat based on the outcome of the recruitment process.