Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2024
216. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will publish the bird surveys that was a condition attached to the granting of planning approval for a wind farm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43595/24]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department monitors, conducts and commissions ecological surveys for a wide range of species, including birds, linked with a suite of statutory requirements, such as reporting as required under Article 12 of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC). It is not routine for NPWS to carry out monitoring surveys for private planning applications. The publication of such surveys is a matter for the consenting authority.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is a statutory consultee in the planning and development system and competent authorities responsible for granting consent may request the NPWS to provide a submission on such proposals in relation to impacts on nature conservation. When the Minister is referred such cases via the Development Applications Unit, staff within the NPWS may provide relevant observations to the competent authority.
Further information can be found at: www.npws.ie/development-consultations#The%20role%20of%20the%20Minister%20in%20relation%20to%20development%20applications
