National Parks and Wildlife Service

437. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE biodiversity data specialists employed by National Parks and Wildlife Service as of 29 June 2026, in tabular form. [50945/26]

468. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full-year cost of funding National Parks and Wildlife Services in 2024, 2025; the estimated cost in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51355/26]

472. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined the practice of other enforcement bodies, including An Garda Síochána, where staffing numbers without any identifying information are published by geographical area; whether any assessment has been carried out of whether comparable publication of NPWS staffing and vacancy data …

473. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing position for NPWS enforcement roles covering east Cork and Waterford, including conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles; the length of any vacancies in those areas; the temporary cover arrangements in place; when each vacant post was last advertised; when…

474. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has carried out any analysis of the relationship between NPWS staffing levels, vacancy duration and enforcement outcomes, including inspections, Ministerial directions, warnings, prosecutions and other enforcement actions arising from reports of alleged unlawful habitat destruction; and if …

594. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and grade of staff employed by the National Parks and Wildlife services for each year since 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45812/26]

595. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed explanation of every public jobs competition for recruitment of roles to the National Parks and Wildlife services for each year since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45813/26]

596. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the standard enforcement process undertaken by the national Parks and Wildlife service; the reason enforcement levels are so low in comparison to cases submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45814/26]

597. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to tackle the high level of environmental incidents in north-eastern and mid-west regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45815/26]

1036. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full year cost, if the number of conservation rangers within his Department increased to 165; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41897/26]

729. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the review of the memorandum of understanding between the NARCG and NPWS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40052/26]

195. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to amending the provisions relating to Section 42 licences under the Wildlife Act 1976, issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to allow for their use not only to prevent serious damage to crops, forestry, or property, but also to address public safety concerns arisi…

606. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the RAPTOR (Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors) protocol and associated system for recording and investigating raptor (bird of prey) persecution and mortality incidents remains operational within the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if so, the reason annual RAPTOR reports…

652. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details of any geographical areas that are currently without locally funded NPWS posts, as well as funded but not filled NPWS posts, for conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles or equivalent; the length of time each area has been without such a post; if there are temporar…

653. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details of the most recent date on which any NPWS posts in geographical areas currently without locally funded posts, or sanctioned but unfilled posts were advertised, broken down by region and role, for conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles or equivalent; whether each …

372. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the ecological survey undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Glennamought Valley in 2004 remains the most recent biodiversity or conservation assessment conducted in the Murphy’s Rock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36336/26]

373. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the scientific findings, habitat classifications, species records, and conservation criteria arising from the 2004 National Parks and Wildlife Service survey of Glennamought Valley in Cork. [36337/26]

374. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons the 2004 National Parks and Wildlife Service survey of Glennamought Valley did not recommend Natural Heritage Area designation; and whether those findings have subsequently been reviewed. [36338/26]

375. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any assessment has been undertaken regarding changes in biodiversity, habitat condition, geological significance, or conservation status in the Murphy’s Rock area since the 2004 survey. [36339/26]

377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any protected, rare, threatened, or priority habitats or species have been recorded within the Murphy’s Rock or Glennamought Valley area since 2004. [36341/26]

695. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service have given consideration to acquiring the 1,500-acre land parcel for sale in Aghavannagh, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34565/26]

577. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of the 2025 capital budget allocation that was actually spent for the National Parks and Wildlife Services; if any unspent capital budget for 2025 was automatically included in the 2026 budget allocation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28260/26]

243. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the NPWS is investigating the reported use of an acoustic deterrent device in a bay in County Clare inhabited by a resident dolphin; whether any licence has been sought or granted for its use; the protections and guidance in place regarding the deployment of such devices in Irish coastal waters; and…

1810. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or NPWS is engaged with Coillte with a view to acquiring land owned by Coillte to aid conservation efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26747/26]

567. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the current status of the EU LIFE Strategic Nature Project led by the NPWS and supported by his Department and Coillte, which is intended to provide a robust evidence base to inform nature conservation measures in Ireland through the development of a bespoke platform; and if he will make a s…