Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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569. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the engagement the National Parks and Wildlife Service has had with Dublin City Council regarding a park (details supplied); the barriers remaining to upgrading works taking place in the park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54638/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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Significant work has been undertaken over the last six months to develop a robust draft land use planning framework to strategically manage the conservation of Light Bellied Brent Geese in the four Dublin local authority areas. Dublin City Council has coordinated inputs from the Dublin local authorities and the OPW in these efforts, with the additional support of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department. On the basis of the scientific work undertaken to date and the limited scale of the proposed works in the Park in question, the NPWS has formed the opinion that the impact of the works will not be significant for the species in an overall context and the work may proceed. It is a matter for Dublin City Council to progress any such proposal and to seek any consents necessary.

Further consolidation of data and more intensive overwintering surveying is now required to bolster the planning support tool and to underpin future decisions in relation to planning developments across the four Dublin local authority areas.

I understand that the local authorities and the OPW will coordinate further surveys to enhance the planning support tool over the next year to develop conservation targets for the species. The NPWS is committed to continuing to support this important work. Key decisions as to how targets can be attained will be taken by the local authorities and those responsible for the development and management of land.