Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will release the National Parks & Wildlife Service report into the works carried out in the basement of Emo Court in 2019 and 2020 following an inspection by a person (details supplied) in December 2020; and if a commitment will be given to full publication of recommendations made in the report [12726/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department maintains ongoing contact with OPW in regard to its obligations under the Wildlife Acts including obligations under the Wildlife and Birds and Habitats legislation in relation to the important hibernation and breeding roost at Emo Court.

However, I should clarify there is no formal NPWS report into works carried out at Emo Court. The NPWS maintains records, such an internal memoranda and other documents, as part of its normal day to day operations and administration. The Deputy may be referring to one of these. My Department would not, in the normal course of events, publish such records.

My Department is happy to work with the OPW – and indeed with local authorities and any other public authorities - in order to assist them in meeting their obligations. For example, to assist public authorities in meeting their obligation to respect the protection given by EU law to bats and their roosts, the NPWS will shortly publish a series of guidance documents dealing with the practical aspects of bat conservation.A guidance document for public authorities, entitled Strict Protection of Animal Species, is also available on the NPWS website. This guidance is intended to assist in the application of Article 12 and Article 16 of the Habitats Directive to ensure that works are compliant with these articles.