Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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406. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government 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. [24265/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has primary responsibility for nature conservation and wildlife protection in Ireland. As part of this remit, NPWS undertakes and recommends proactive conservation measures that are necessary for the maintenance or restoration of protected species, both within designated areas such as Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation (which together make up the Natura 2000 network of sites) and in the wider countryside. These may include the installation of structures such as bat hibernacula, and bird nesting boxes. NPWS-funded schemes such as the Local Biodiversity Action Fund and the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme support local authorities and landowners to install such structures where appropriate.

The installation of structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species may also be included within a development design or required via planning conditions. The NPWS may often request these to be provided, where deemed necessary, when they are consulted by public authorities or where regional staff may provide advice to members of the public.