Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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28. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity will convene; and the discussions he has had with his Ministerial colleagues in relation to same. [51084/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department. The timing and scheduling of the Assembly will depend on the outcome of these discussions and is ultimately a matter for the Department of the Taoiseach, under whose aegis Citizen Assemblies are held.

There  are a number of external factors which need to be considered before the scope and terms of the Assembly are framed. 

In this regard, work is currently underway in my Department on putting a consultation in place to ensure the views of stakeholders, such as youth, are included in the process. I consider it crucial that the views of our young people are properly and carefully considered in determining how we approach the biodiversity crisis in the coming years. In this regard, I have held discussions with my colleague Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 

I hope to be in a position to launch the consultation before the end of the year.