Christopher O'Sullivan
Cork South-West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The aim of the hierarchy of the plan-making, as set out in the Act of 2024, is to improve scope for the various tiers of the planning system to more closely relate to one another, therefore providing greater clarity and consistency for all involved, from individual citizens and residents' groups to landowners and developers and ultimately…”
“My understanding is that a ten-year modernisation programme has already been undertaken by the Courts Service and significant progress has been made in improving the availability and use of court data.”
“Under the Act of 2024, the national planning framework continues to spearhead and explicate the planning agenda and sits at the pinnacle of the plan-led system and structure, whereby all tiers of planning from regional to local align with strategic objectives set out in the national planning framework.”
“The Senator has suggested that such plans would identify strategic development priorities, including settlement hierarchy, infrastructure corridors, climate adaptation measures and areas for regeneration; set out indicative phasing for major infrastructure and public investment; include spatial mapping of long-term development objectives;…”
“The Bill also facilitates the completion of the work of the Valuation Tribunal and the facility for the local authority to issue the levy demand and, where necessary, for An Coimisiún Pleanála to deal with any appeals to the demand that may arise in those existing cases currently with the tribunal.”
“As the system of plan-making in the State has just been revised and is being implemented for the first time, the introduction of another layer of plan-making could undermine the new hierarchy that was carefully arranged and agreed following extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Office of the Attorney General, an…”
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“The FSSU will now work with the school directly to assist it in resolving the financial difficulty. Schools in financial difficulty are encouraged to contact the Department of Education and Youth for advice and support. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to schools, which may include an advance in capitation grant funding or other measures. Any school with financial concerns is then encouraged to engage directly with the FSSU and the school’s patron in order to work to address the financial challenges at the school. The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants.”
“I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this on behalf of the students and parents of Scoil Dairbhre. That is a very unusual circumstance. It is one that certainly I have not heard of. Obviously, I am not in the Department of education. Perhaps the Minister has heard of such a case, but it is extraordinary. I certainly would have said it is not the norm around Ireland for parents to be asked by the school to bring in toilet rolls and other essential supplies. In this instance, officials from the Department have made contact with the school, and the school has been referred to the financial services support unit, FSSU, which is a dedicated support service for schools funded by the Department of Education and Youth. This is the usual practice where any school presents as being in difficulty.”
“I am confident, however, that the structures established in recent years, the actions identified by industry itself and included in the logistics and supply chain skills group action plan, and the long-term framework provided by the road haulage strategy provide the necessary tools to tackle these issues head-on. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and officials in the Department of Transport are committed to continuing to work collaboratively with the sector over the coming years. I again thank all Deputies for their contributions.”
“Increases in motor insurance premiums have been discussed multiple times recently. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Troy, provided a comprehensive statement on the matter on 12 November, including details of the measures introduced under the 2020 and 2025 action plans for insurance reform to address issues with the cost and supply of insurance. The challenges faced by the road haulage sector are complex. We acknowledge the genuine concerns raised by the sector with many Members and with officials in the Department of Transport. We acknowledge many of the suggestions that have been made in the Chamber today as well. There are no simple solutions to the bigger questions of decarbonisation and the lack of skilled drivers.”
“They include opening additional lanes to HGVs, providing additional contactless payment points at heights suitable for HGVs and relocating tag readers to allow earlier reading of tags and reduce the need for vehicles to stop at the barrier. While these are only small steps, they have been positively received by the haulage industry, which has noted the improvements made by the changes. TII is working with the operator of the M1 toll plaza and hopes to have similar measures in place at that site later this month or in December at the latest. Officials from the Department of Transport look forward to expanding on this discussion over the coming months to consider the longer term future of tolling in Ireland with continued input from TII and the haulage sector.”
“The Department's road transport operator licensing division was in direct contact with each operator prior to going live with details on how to register for and use the new system. While these examples demonstrate that a lot of progress has been made to address the challenges faced by road haulage operators, I think we can all agree that there is more work to be done. Officials from the Department of Transport and TII and members of the road freight forum have been discussing challenges raised in relation to tolls throughout the year. Some practical suggestions made by the road haulage sector have been tested on the N25 Waterford city bypass over the past few months.”
“The Department of Transport has commissioned a study to conduct a hierarchy-of-use assessment of HVO in transport modes, including land transport, aviation and maritime, and non-transport sectors. The study will take account of sustainability, availability, alternative energy sources and incentives for supply in the different sectors. While the study will focus specifically on HVO, the concerns raised by the haulage sector in relation to alternative fuels will be fed into this study. I look forward to hearing the recommendations made. Other initiatives the Department of Transport is undertaking to support the sector include the introduction of a new online road transport operator licensing system. The system was introduced on 10 November, providing user-friendly access for operators to apply for, renew and amend operator licences.”
“The working group is finalising recommendations for workable solutions to these barriers. Separately, some funding has been made available for 2026 to advance considerations for a HDV charging hub. While electrification is the preferred path to decarbonisation, I am sure all Members will agree that this will be a long journey, and we cannot afford to wait to reduce our emissions. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, mentioned the results of a study on the use of HVO in his opening remarks. While those results were not as positive as we would have liked, it does not mean we can stop our considerations of how to encourage and maximise the use of alternative fuels.”
“Decarbonisation of the haulage sector is a complex challenge but the results outlined in the FTAI’s report suggest a growing momentum within the sector to move to a more sustainable business model. This is a positive indicator that Government supports for operators to transition to alternatively fuelled vehicles are having the desired impact. I thank those businesses that have availed of the supports to date. Without first movers, the path forward would be far more challenging for the sector. Additionally, the heavy-duty vehicle electrification pathway working group has brought together industry representatives to share experience and best practice in progressing decarbonisation in the freight and logistics sector. The group has identified the availability of charging infrastructure as a critical enabler for this transition.”
“The event has grown year on year and now includes the annual transition year event that the Minister of State mentioned. I strongly encourage all companies and organisations to participate in next year’s events to help support their future employees gain the relevant skills needed in the sector. Other work being done via the group includes an assessment of future skills needs, examining the process of recruitment of drivers from outside the EU and European Economic Area with a view to simplifying the process and reducing the time it takes, looking after driver CPC training and recommending improvements, and improving awareness of the sector as an attractive career path for school leavers and those looking to change careers.”
“It is chaired by the Department of Transport and includes haulage and logistics sector industry representatives, education and training providers and all relevant Government Departments and agencies. The Minister commends the group on its hard work and for identifying and leading on the implementation of actions to address gaps and challenges in the sector. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, mentioned the logistics and supply chain skills week during his opening remarks. This is possibly the most visible outcome of the working group. Skills week was first held in 2023 and showcased over 30 online and in-person events across the country. Initially it was intended as a one-off event but due to the success of that first event it has now become an annual fixture looked forward to by everyone in the sector.”
“Officials in the Department want to continue this spirit of collaboration to assist the sector to achieve the goals set out in the road haulage strategy and the actions identified by the sector in the logistics and supply chain skills group action plan. By working together, we are confident that we can improve current processes, build a resilient and skilled workforce equipped to meet the future needs of the sector and achieve our collective goals on the path to decarbonisation. The logistics and supply chain skills group is not a new initiative. It was established in 2019 with the key objective of supporting the promotion of careers, skills development and sustainable employment in the logistics and supply chain sectors in Ireland.”
“The sector has faced multiple shocks in recent years and its response to the national and geopolitical crisis must be applauded. It has worked with policy makers to develop innovative and practical measures to keep our supply chains moving and viable into the future. We all agree that the road freight forum has provided an excellent platform for structured engagement between policymakers and key stakeholders. Policy should never be developed in a vacuum and the discussions at that forum and the willingness of the sector representatives to be open, constructive and pragmatic has been helpful for the officials in the Department of Transport.”
“In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, I know he listened carefully. I saw him making notes on a lot of the statements that were made. He is knowledgeable about this sector too. I am sure there are a lot of things he wants to do at pace but we know that within the confines of Government, it is not always easy to solve things quickly. I know he will agree with most of what was said but maybe not all. I know he was taking a lot of notes on that. I reiterate that this Government recognises the need to support the haulage, logistics and supply chain sector, which is a key enabler for all other industries. It is important to address long-standing challenges such as driver shortages and to work with the sector on its transition to decarbonisation.”
“I am glad the Ceann Comhairle addressed that issue in her comments. People are quick to blame wildlife and birds. It is the old trope of what is more important. The Ceann Comhairle is absolutely right. There are six months in the year when works can be done. Landowners have a role to play as well. Even within those six months, where a stretch of road is deemed to be dangerous or causing issues, the remit is within the local authority. Funding is, of course, an issue. The other way we can improve safety on our roads is by investing in them, improving surfaces and realignment. Fair play to her for commenting. I am sure she is biting her lip because there are loads of other suggestions she would love to make about how we can look after and protect this important industry and sector.”
“If local authorities are under pressure from an administrative point of view, we will certainly not ignore it. I reiterate that the key focus has to be on the purchase of as many houses as possible.”
“I will do so. I know the Minister works closely with the different local authorities and county CEOs and meets them regularly. I am sure that challenge will be brought to his attention. As is constantly stated, the key objective is housing delivery. The homeless figures are unacceptable. We need to tackle homelessness and the way to do so is through supply. Some key measures have been introduced already, including incentives for apartment building and this week's announcement regarding developer-led infrastructure for wastewater. On their own, these measures will not solve the housing crisis, but together we should start to see an increase in supply, which is the key objective here. Tenant in situ, even though it is not called tenant in situ and is under the acquisitions scheme, remains a key part of that.”
“Supporting households at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness remains a priority for the Government and support for tenant in situ is a key measure in this regard. As I said, I appreciate the feedback on the administration. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne, about extra supports. The salient point is we need to put as much of our resources as possible into those purchases because they are the key tool in preventing homelessness.”
“With more than 16,600 persons in this State without a home, including some 2,450 families and more than 5,200 children, our focus has to be on maximising the impact of funding available for those households facing the most precarious housing situations. In this regard, and I know the Senator will consider this, we are obliged to use this funding to purchase as many homes as possible. Put simply, allocating any amount of this funding to other purposes, including administration costs, would only reduce the amount available for acquisitions and impact those households that otherwise would be supported to exit homelessness or be prevented from entering homelessness in the first place.”
“If this is not possible, the local authority must help the tenant to secure alternative private rented accommodation. Where an existing or alternative tenancy cannot be secured, the local authority must examine if a tenancy in a local authority or approved housing body social home can be facilitated. Thereafter, where these options have proven unfeasible, the local authority may proceed to support an acquisition of the property with the tenant or tenants in situ. So far this year, a total of 118 acquisitions have been completed to support households existing homelessness into housing. A further 438 tenant in situ acquisitions have been completed, ultimately preventing these households from becoming homeless.”
“This brings the total allocation for 2025 to €375 million. Importantly, there is no tenant in situ scheme per se . Rather, acquisitions with tenants in situ are a category of purchase under the second-hand acquisitions programme, which help prevent social housing-supported households in the private rental sector from becoming homeless. In this regard, tenant in situ acquisitions are a last resort policy tool available to local authorities once all other options and measures to prevent a household becoming homeless have been exhausted. It remains the case that, as a first step, the relevant local authority tenancy sustainment officer must engage with the relevant landlord on whether the threatened tenancy can be maintained within the current or an alternative social housing scheme.”
“The Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, has this year allocated some €325 million to fund acquisitions under the Department's social housing second-hand acquisitions programme, an increase from the €60 million committed under Housing for All. This allocation will fund acquisitions under four categories. These four categories include: exits from homeless services; tenancy sustainment, namely, tenant in situ; persons with disabilities and older persons requiring urgent housing responses; and buy and renew actions tackling vacancy and dereliction. More recently, the Minister, Deputy Browne, has secured an additional €50 million, which has been ring-fenced for acquisitions supporting households, particularly those larger families with children and housing first clients, to exit long-term homeless accommodation.”
“I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important issue. It is an important scheme. This is something that was introduced as a key measure to prevent homelessness. It has been a success and it needs to continue so as to ensure the State still has capacity to purchase houses where a tenant is at risk of eviction or homelessness. It is key. In my response, I will outline the fact that the key focus of this Department is to ensure that as much of our resources as possible goes towards the actual purchase of houses rather than more resources going into administration, but I accept the bona fides and the feedback the Senator is receiving from councillors that some local authorities are obviously under pressure administering the scheme. It is certainly something we will look at it. I will go into more detail in my response.”
“They are so excited to show me their area of natural beauty, the ecology and the work that they are doing on invasive species and plant, animal and insect life. I liken it to a child showing you their Lego collection. They get excited. That is what it is like. That level of passion only augurs well for nature in Ireland. I thank them for that.”
“My message to people, even though we have to be responsible in how we enjoy our national parks, is to get out there and explore them. They are 100% free. There is no charge to enter our national parks. We do not have that everywhere. We are unique in that regard. Get out there and enjoy them because the more people who go into our national parks and realise, enjoy and love the beauty of nature, the better outcomes we will have for nature. We will then start to see this policy change because there will be pressure, like Senators are putting on us today, to improve nature and to see better outcomes for nature. The rangers, ecologists and general operatives who work in our national parks are extraordinary. As I meet them in our national parks, they are so proud of their patch.”
“Our national parks are the jewel in the crown. They cover the most stunning and spectacular scenery we have in this country and they are unique. Glenveagh National Park is one of the few places where people can see golden eagles soaring over their heads. Head down to Wild Nephin National Park and people will find this incredible dark sky reserve. Connemara has these beautiful peaks and mountains. The Burren is one of the unique places on the planet with the limestone and the grasslands there. Killarney has its lakes and the white-tailed eagles are becoming far more common there because of the release project. In Wicklow, we have those gorgeous glens right on the doorstep of our capital city. It is such a great way for people to explore.”
“Its current ownership is within the ESB and I would love to reach out to it to see if it would work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to create a real landmark, best-in-class nature reserve where we could showcase the wildlife there. I have already touched on Senator Brady’s point about the NARGC. I am always open to conversation but, again, with the ongoing judicial review, we have to be careful of what we say. I have enjoyed its collaboration so far. To address Senator Boyle’s point, Glenveagh National Park is stunning. I have been there a couple of times in an official capacity. Its approach to conservation, eradication of invasive species and deer control is really hitting the nail on the head up there. That is why there is this amazing tapestry of habitats, which the Senator spoke about.”
“It is an extraordinary spot. With regard to Glendalough, I know the patch of land the Senator has lobbied for a long time for the State to purchase to increase the size of the Glen of the Downs. I agree it would be a good strategic move and something we should pursue. Obviously, with land sales, you have to be careful in terms of undermining any of those discussions that may be happening, but I assure the Senator that I will actively pursue and look into the increase of the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve through acquisition, which would be very welcome. Senator Lynch mentioned the Gearagh, which is very close to my heart and very close to where I live, even though it is in a different constituency. While the size of it may not merit a national park, there is a discussion to be had.”
“Senator Kyne is not here today but he is living very near to the Connemara National Park, which is absolutely extraordinary. In the grand scheme of things, the Nation Parks and Wildlife Service is still a very small landowner. We are not looking to outcompete farmers in terms of purchasing land. It is done on a very small scale in the grand scheme of things. When we purchase land, there are conversations to be had about how that can be managed. That may include, for example, rare breeds of cattle, etc. Senator Casey lives in a national park. We are all jealous. He will have to invite me down for a cup of tea sometime when I am down there. It is an extraordinary spot. I am ashamed to say it is the only national park I have not visited in an official capacity, but I have been there on numerous occasions unofficially.”
“Generally, LIFE projects are only five years long anyway, so there has to be life after LIFE projects. We see an important role for ourselves in that, whether it is under the farm plans, collaboration with agriculture or something else. That is really important. In response to Senator Loughlin, I will of course come to visit the Curragh, which I pass every single week. I completely appreciate the nature, value and heritage of it. I promise the Senator I will visit the Curragh. We will do a trip around to see all aspects of what makes it the special place it is. It is amazing in many ways but it is a shame in other ways because we have seen the habit there really being degraded. I would love to see a management plan kick in so that we can see it come back.”
“The passion they have is infectious. When I meet them, it spurs me on to do more. If everyone could get a little drop of that level of passion they have for nature, wildlife and for their patch, Ireland's wildlife and biodiversity outlook would be so much better. I do not think they see themselves as working a day in their lives. That is the way I would put it. The national park legislation will 100% look at that. There are other legislative measures that the Senator did not have time to get through in that short five years that I would love to talk about progressing with him. On the LIFE projects, the Senator should take some comfort in the fact that if Europe does not step up to the mark by continuing to fund the LIFE projects, we will. The National Parks and Wildlife Service sees an important role for itself in that.”
“For example, we have seen the crane breed in Ireland once again for the first time this millennium because of the level of collaboration and work that goes on there. I cannot overstep the mark to say whether we will have a Laois national park but it certainly is a fabulous county. That proves the point that right throughout Ireland, we have some of the most extraordinary habitats. It is just about protecting it. They have been degraded and going in the wrong direction for far too long but with the work that the then Minister of State, Senator Noonan, did and, hopefully, I can continue, we can start to see that reversed. Very few could speak with the knowledge Senator Noonan has. I will come back to the park staff, including rangers, in a minute. The Senator knows, as he has met them. They are extraordinary people.”
“We now have this absolute gem of a limestone grassland national park, which we have every intention of keeping that way. The stone walls are one of the most important features there. The stone walls are an essential habitat for many species. I really look forward to hearing about the initiative coming online in terms of protecting stone walls. From a heritage point of view, and as I have said to the Senator before, if there is anything I can do to help, I certainly will. In response to Senator McCormack, Laois has lots of amazing bogland. It really does. I would not rule that out. It is a unique habitat. Laois has some of the most important, pristine boglands. Not far from Laois but in the Senator's own constituency, Lough Boora is an example of what can be done with reclaimed bogs and protecting species to see them flourish.”
“It is good that he mentioned the corn crake as well. We are hearing it again and seeing a bounceback throughout the west coast. It was great to see Senator Murphy's vast knowledge of national parks and the different species that live within them. He kind of took the wind out of my sails, to be honest, in terms of going through all the different species, habitats and scenery that you see. I will make special mention of the Burren, which is extraordinary. Visiting the Burren taught me a lot about how managed grazing, farming and working with farmers can create this unbelievable tapestry of habitats. Essentially, the Burren is a man-made national park in many ways. It formed over many centuries because of the different land uses.”
“Other than that, I cannot say much more other than I really want to continue to work with the NARGC and the conservation efforts on which we have already embarked. TB is certainly an issue for the Department of agriculture. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, recently announced a TB eradication scheme. Something to keep in mind is that there was a recent survey done and 85% of the thousands of badgers that were culled were free of TB. We have to be careful in terms of how we approach this. Certainly, there is no intention to reduce culling rates at the moment but increasing it could create problems in terms of those levels of badgers that are free of TB. We have to be careful that we do not use a sledgehammer to break a nut. Senator Joe Conway called for a midlands national park, which is something I will pursue and look at.”
“I will touch on the NARGC because many Senators raised that issue. It is a group I am more than willing to work with. I like the collaboration we have seen so far. The mink eradication was mentioned. I genuinely see gun clubs across Ireland as a key tool in nature preservation in helping breeding waders and helping monitor our bird species, including duck species. There is key data that the gun clubs have that we can really use in terms of preserving nature. The one commonality is that we all care about the preservation of nature. The memorandum of understanding, MOU, is being reviewed because all our Department's MOUs are being reviewed. We have not just pinpointed the NARGC. Unfortunately, I am limited in terms of what I can say in public or what I can say in this forum because of an ongoing judicial review, which creates problems.”
“The Senator is right that there is no freshwater national park. I have been to Lough Ree. I have been to visit the breeding waders programme there and the Black Islands. It is an extraordinary place, it really is. It definitely gets you thinking as to whether it merits national park status. I am certainly sold on it in terms of the scale and size of it. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has acquired land there and will seek to acquire more in collaboration but the Senator has hit the nail on the head in terms of the traditional form of farming. I love the collaboration there between the farmers, the type of grazing management they do and how that then encourages breeding waders to flourish, respond and increase in numbers. It certainly merits further investigation and I will pursue that even further.”
“I am blown away and heartened by the number of contributions, the level of contributions and the passion in the contributions. It is great to see this level of interest across the House. I would love to see that level of passion replicated in the Dáil as well. I will try to get to as many of the points raised by the Senators, starting with Senator Flaherty in the Chair. He acknowledged the efforts of the then Minister of State, Senator Noonan, which came across well. I might not have hammed it up enough in my opening speech. I thought I had covered all bases. The Senator was extraordinary in the role he did and bringing the National Parks and Wildlife Service from where it was to where it is now. They are big shoes to fill and there is a big onus on me to continue that work. I again thank Senator Noonan for that.”
“I recognise that the Members of this Chamber represent a wide variety of viewpoints and stakeholders from a range of backgrounds, and I look forward to listening to their contributions.”
“This allows my Department to work towards sustainable herd management and, as such, there is annually, and will continue to be, a need to remove a certain percentage of animals from the herd, encompassing both age and gender, on an ongoing basis. There is a wealth of work going on in our national parks that I have yet to address. I will come back to it in my closing remarks. I will finish my opening remarks by saying issues of nature and of biodiversity affect us all, and perhaps hold a greater place in the public consciousness than ever before. One of the greatest strengths of our system of national parks is to provide greater access to and knowledge of issues surrounding nature and conservation for all.”
“National parks provide an opportunity for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to study and research these invasive species, determining the optimum methodologies for their control and eventual eradication. In 2025, over €2 million has been allocated to address the issue of invasive species management across our national parks. Significant inroads have been made in several areas, in particular in the tackling of Rhododendron ponticum in significant parts of Killarney National Park. With regard to the management of deer within our State-owned national parks and nature reserves, culling is a regular and ongoing management operation and is undertaken periodically when resources, weather and timing allow.”
“It means that additional woodland, heath and limestone pavements are now under the stewardship of the NPWS. It means that additional lands can be incorporated into the dark skies initiative at Wild Nephin. It means that vulnerable habitats and breeding grounds can now be nurtured and protected for years to come. These lands provide a platform for the NPWS to undertake major capital investment. One of the hallmark capital-funded activities in national parks is the identification and control of invasive alien species. Each one of our national parks is a collection of different habitats with varying animals and plants native to each region. However, each park is susceptible to a range of non-native, invasive species that varies based on the specifics of each site.”
“Connemara National Park has made its most significant addition to the park since it was first opened in 1980. The purchase last year of an additional 249 ha of land located in the townland of Tievebaun, County Galway, increased the size of Connemara National Park by over 12%. In 2023, Wild Nephin National Park added 165 ha to its footprint. Killarney National Park saw expansions of 122 ha in 2023 and a further 121 ha in 2024. Also in 2024, the Burren National Park acquired lands in Tullycommon, totalling 172 ha. Finally, this year has seen a number of purchases advance, including the completed acquisition of 208 ha at Glenveagh National Park in Donegal. These purchases mean that more than 98,000 ha of land now fall within the boundary of national parks in Ireland.”
“Similarly, objective 2 of the national biodiversity action plan aims to meet urgent national conservation and restoration needs via a variety of measures, which include the expansion of our national parks and nature reserves network by 2030 in order to help better manage national conservation efforts. Already, we have made very good progress in this regard. As previously mentioned, the 2023 acquisition of lands in Dowth led to the creation of the first new national park in almost 25 years. This purchase added almost 224 ha to the national park network. In 2024, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara followed suit, becoming Ireland's first marine national park thanks to the acquisition of the Conor Pass and related sites in County Kerry. These have been complemented by other strategic land acquisitions across a range of other parks in the past few years.”
“These past few years have seen increased staff recruitment, with the appointment of key posts, such as national park manager, across the country, while also providing additional guide resources, increased numbers of rangers in post, and stronger regional management structures and teams. The investments made are not abstract numbers; they have had real, tangible effects, no more so than when we look at the expansion of the network of our national parks. This certainly is not expansion for the sake of expansion. As set out in the programme for Government, this Government recognises the importance of continuing to support the ongoing expansion and resourcing of our national parks. The European Union's biodiversity strategy provides for ambitious restoration targets and the recommended expansion of protected areas.”
“I am delighted to say that core funding for the NPWS has increased from €28.7 million in 2020 to €78 million in 2025, and for 2026 I have secured a core funding allocation for the National Parks and Wildlife Service of over €100 million for the first time. This Government's commitment to nature has resulted in real, on-the-ground improvements in our national parks system. It has enabled investment in a range of capital works projects, investment in better equipment, an increased ability to respond to the availability of strategic land opportunities, the introduction of new and innovative ways of doing things, and improved visitor facilities.”
“The work that happens in our national parks is at the very forefront of building a knowledge and love of nature, in conserving habitats and protecting nature, in providing new, sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities and in meeting our national and international obligations, such as the requirements of the nature restoration law. My predecessor, Senator Noonan, whom I am sure will join us later, played an important role in delivering the reviews into the function and role of the NPWS, and I acknowledge that. This Government remains committed to seeing the NPWS deliver on the ambitious renewal programme that arose from those reviews. The renewal programme seeks to build a modern, well-resourced and resilient agency that can protect our natural heritage and manage our network of national parks and nature reserves.”
“This was followed by the creation of Ireland's eighth national park, which is also our first marine national park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, in Ciarraí. The National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is responsible for the management of these parks. I want to specifically mention the dedicated staff working on the ground, who deserve immense credit for the stewardship they provide day to day. Their work often goes unseen - managing visitor access, engaging in education programmes, protecting vulnerable habitats, working with neighbouring farmers and local communities, and responding to the growing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.”
“Across this country, our national parks are places where biodiversity thrives, people and communities can connect with nature and we can all continue to experience the inherent beauty of our island. Our parks span a range of geographies and biospheres, from the rugged mountains of Connemara to the oak woodlands of Killarney to the upland heaths of Wicklow and Glenveagh. Until recently, Ireland had six national parks: Killarney, Glenveagh, Connemara, Wild Nephin, the Wicklow Mountains and the Burren. In 2023 and 2024, we saw the acquisition of strategic land purchases to facilitate the creation of two new national parks. Our seventh national park, yet to open to the public, is based at the site of Dowth Hall in County Meath.”
“I thank the Seanad for arranging statements on national parks. It means a lot that the group here cares enough to have a conversation and a discussion on our national parks and recognises their importance. Acting Chairperson, you being from a county with one of the most stunning national parks in the country, it is great that you are in the Chair. I thank the Senators present for the opportunity to address them on this very important issue. This expanding, diverse and vibrant network is one of our nation's greatest treasures and represents the living, beating heart of Ireland's natural heritage. It is my pleasure to provide an overview of the national parks system and update the Seanad on recent developments, and I would welcome Senators' comments and feedback.”