Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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779. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of and position regarding the establishment of a wildlife crime unit in the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41142/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The process of resourcing a Wildlife Crime Unit in the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has commenced.

It has always been an important function of the NPWS to enforce the wildlife laws and this will continue to be the case. It will continue to work, primarily, by supporting the law enforcement work of the regional staff, for example, by arranging and conducting training, and providing best-practice guidance on the conduct of investigations. It will also liaise at national level with An Garda Síochána and with Revenue’s Custom Service in relation to wildlife crime, including crime involving the international trade in protected species.