Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23859/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) administers a number of grant schemes, including the Local Biodiversity Action Fund and the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, to assist locally led biodiversity projects throughout the country. Appropriately sited and installed structures may be eligible for funding under these schemes subject to the criteria of the scheme and the funding available.

In addition, the NPWS provides funding annually for Lesser Horseshoe Bat roost works. In 2022, an amount of €50,000 has been allocated for this.