Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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248. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to help with the low staffing levels in Killarney National Park given that it was announced in Budget 2022 that there would be rangers and other categories of staff hired but the Park is lacking in staff for general maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58780/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Staffing levels across the Department, including the Killarney National Park, 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 in recent years there has been significant recruitment in the National Park and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and in particular in Killarney National Park. From 2017 to 2021, 11 permanent Industrial staff, such as Guides, General Operatives and Gardeners have been recruited to the 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 Park as well as our other national parks and nature reserves in the ownership and care of the NPWS.