Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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452. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the active management plans operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63077/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Ireland’s six National Parks are managed as Category II National Parks under the criteria set out by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).  Accordingly, all National Parks in Ireland are fully owned and managed by the State. and all are actively managed, inter alia,  for habitat conservation purposes.

In 2017, the partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and Fáilte Ireland was created to achieve the shared goal of further developing quality experiences at our National Parks and Nature Reserves. One major output from my Department's Strategic Partnership with Fáilte Ireland, was a Masterplan for the six National Parks and Nature Reserves. This provides a high level and integrated blueprint for the NPWS to invest in and better manage the Parks for conservation, biodiversity and visitor alike. In effect, it enables the aligning of conservation objectives of the Parks with increasing visitor appeal and numbers. The Masterplan guides the phased development of these enhanced visitor facilities and improved visitor experiences based on research into international best practice. My Department intends to produce visitor and management plans for its National Parks on an on-going basis.

As part of my Department’s continuing commitment and contribution to protecting our heritage and recreation product, it has been exploring ways to optimise the sustainable potential of heritage sites under our control in a way that is compatible with conservation objectives. In this context, it should be noted that my Department negotiated the extension of Wicklow Mountains National Park by purchasing almost 4,900 acres of Dublin Uplands at Glenasmole in 2016 at a cost of €800,000. In 2017, the entire Wild Nephin area was consolidated into the ownership of the NPWS. This creates a State – owned re-wilding project of over 11,000 hectares and aims to provide increased nature conservation benefits and biodiversity as well as enhanced recreational and social benefits through the ‘re-wilding’ of the forest which adjoins the National Park.

Given the resources available within our National Parks and Nature Reserves, I am of course mindful of the need to focus on the core responsibilities relating to the management of the existing Parks and Reserves lands; my Department is focused upon conservation objectives for Natura 2000 sites in the first instance. Ireland's 3rd National Biodiversity Plan runs from 2017 to 2021 and captures the objectives, targets and actions for biodiversity to be undertaken by a wide range of stakeholders in government, civil society and private sectors to achieve Ireland’s Vision for Biodiversity not just in our own National Parks, but countrywide.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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453. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the National Parks and Wildlife Service review; when he envisages it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63078/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of the 2nd of December 2021. The position is as outlined therein - the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) paper referred to is close to completion following the extensive research, consultation, orientation and feedback work. This  punctuates that part of the Review process and creates the conjunction to the next phases. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Review process is proceeding apace.

The next phases of the review process are in train. Firstly, the Reflect Phase as I and my Department consider the outcomes of this work and then synthesize the resourcing gains of the past 18 months with a detailed, expert analysis of governance, organisational structures, communications, data systems and future resourcing, and outline the NPWS’ specific requirements across those areas. The final, Renew Phase will detail the objectives and prioritised actions required to equip the NPWS to continue to deliver on the ambitious goals, objectives and targets emerging from our Programme for Government – Our Shared Future , the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, Heritage Ireland 2030 and the new National Biodiversity Action Plan.