Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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232. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department and public bodies/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. [24261/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department, currently, has no policy in place to install structures - artificial or otherwise - which may provide shelter and habitat space for wild species.

My Department recognises its responsibility to support Ireland’s environmental and wider sustainable development objectives. To this effect, a Green Committee was established in the Department in 2018 to raise awareness of environmental sustainability and promote green behaviours. The Green Committee is actively exploring how we can practically support biodiversity and provide opportunities for engagement at all levels across the workplace.

The bodies under the aegis of my Department do not currently have such policies in place. However, the Central Bank of Ireland has an overarching integrated policy demonstrating a commitment to improving environmental performance but does not have any specific policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species. In line with its environmental policy, the Central Bank operates to a Biodiversity Action Plan and has been progressing a number of initiatives to improve the natural environment and biodiversity, including:

• Signed up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
• Commenced the “Don’t mow, let it grow” rewilding campaign between May and September giving slower growing wildflowers the chance to flower amongst the grass
• Introduced 10,000 bees to the roof of its North Wall Quay building