Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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689. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the hiring of new front-line staff for Killarney National Park; if the numbers of front-line staff being hired and time frames for such hiring will be provided; if the total number of front-line staff employed in Killarney National Park over the past five years will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40404/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Front-line services to visitors in Killarney National Park, are provided by the Guide staff, which are made up of a combination of full time and seasonal Guide staff.  Over the past number of years, the Guide staff complement in Killarney National Park has comprised of 10 permanent and an average of 16 seasonal Guide staff.

Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. 

I am pleased to note that there has been significant recruitment, in recent years, in the National Park and Wildlife Service of my Department, and in particular Killarney National Park.  From 2017 to 2021, 11 permanent Industrial staff, such as Guides, General Operatives and Gardeners have been recruited to Killarney National Park.  My Department is currently in the process of a number of recruitment campaigns for seasonal staff, across a number of grades, to manage our National Parks including Killarney National Park.  In addition, a calibrated portion of the expansion of the Conservation Ranger cohort will be assigned to Killarney National Parks as well as our other national parks and nature reserves in the ownership and care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.