Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cost of doubling the funding for the local biodiversity action fund. [28199/25]

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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254. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost to increase current resourcing to local authorities to tackle the biodiversity crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28019/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 254 together.

Local authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity emergency. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department provides funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions in the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan. Almost €11 million has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF since the scheme was established. A fund of €3m was made available in 2025. All 31 local authorities applied for and will receive funding this year, with a total of 262 projects approved, covering a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control, bird and bat conservation, wetland surveys and community biodiversity awareness and training.

In addition, my Department also supports the Heritage Council in the operation of their Biodiversity Officer Programme. There are currently 38 Biodiversity Officers in place across 29 of the 31 local authorities. The remaining two local authorities without a Biodiversity Officer (Cork County Council and South Dublin County Council) are currently at an advanced stage in the recruitment process. Of the Biodiversity Officers currently in place, 28 are part of the Heritage Council programme which is funded by my Department. This provides a funding subvention to local authorities for employment costs of Biodiversity Officers as follows: Year One: 75%; Year Two: 50%; Year Three+: 25%. Each local authority is responsible for paying the remaining portion of the salary from its own funding.

Expenditure on salary subvention and associated expenses by the Heritage Council for these Biodiversity Officers is expected to be €1.7 million by year end. In addition, Biodiversity Officers are eligible to apply for additional project funding offered by the Heritage Council to support their work. For 2025, the Heritage Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan Grant Scheme has offered grants totaling €511,628 to 25 local authorities. This funding is targeted to assist in the creation and implementation of Local Biodiversity Action Plans.