Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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188. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the strategic review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service report; the progress that has been made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11578/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to a significant investment in, and a renewal of, the National Parks and Wildlife Service as set out in the Programme for Government. The multi-phase Review which will underpin this process is at an advanced stage and nearing completion.

There are three phases. The first Review phase, which involves extensive research, consultation, orientation and feedback work, feeds into the remaining phases. Second is the Reflect phase, which considers the outcomes of this work and then synthesises the resourcing gains of the past 18 months with a detailed, expert analysis of governance, organisational structures, communications, data systems and future resourcing, and outlines the NPWS’ specific requirements across those areas.

The final phase details 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.

None of the component parts of the Review process will be disaggregated or published separately ahead of a Government decision on the Strategic Action Plan for the NPWS, which is the planned outcome of the Review process.