Parks & Wildlife Gets €55m Renewal

Pic: Chris Dobson

atest press release from Steven Matthews TD, issued on Thursday, May 5th 2022…

Deputy Steven Matthews, Green TD for Wicklow, has welcomed the establishment of a strategic action plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

This was a key Green Commitment in the Programme for Government. This will involve a full organisational restructuring of the NPWS, a substantial €55 million additional investment in the organisation across three budgetary cycles and the recruitment of 60 additional staff members.

Speaking following the launch of the plan, Deputy Matthews said: “I am delighted that my Green Party colleague and the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has announced the details of a new Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). This is one of the largest investments in the NPWS since it was established in 2003, and acts on the recommendations identified in the review process. This was a key Green win during the Programme for Government negotiations and its extremely rewarding to see it come to fruition.

“It is very welcome that the NPWS will be upgraded to an Executive Agency, which will lead to more funding and administrative resources for the organisation in future and enhance its ability to deliver its mandate in protecting our national heritage. This change in status recognises the work of the NPWS as crucial to restoring our ecosystems and ensuring that our native plants and animals can thrive.

“In light of these new supports for the NPWS, I believe that this is the right time to establish a full-time, permanent position for a biodiversity officer at Wicklow County Council. We were the first local authority in the country to declare a biodiversity emergency and to establish a Strategic Policy Committee for Climate and Biodiversity Action.

“This is a role which I have been pushing for since last year, and I will continue to work with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Wicklow County Council to introduce the necessary administrative supports which will enhance and expand our local initiatives to promote biodiversity,” Deputy Matthews concluded.