Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
338. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of biodiversity officers in each local authority; to provide a breakdown of the estimated cost to hire one additional FTE climate action officer in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to double the funding for biodiversity officers, broken down by cap ex and op ex, in tabular form. [48734/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together.
In total there are 36 Biodiversity Officer posts across the 31 Local Authorities, of which one is currently vacant with recruitment ongoing.
Of the Biodiversity Officers currently in place, the majority are part of the Heritage Council Biodiversity Officer Programme, which is funded by my Department. This programme provides a funding subvention for Biodiversity Officer salaries to the relevant Local Authority. In the first year following recruitment the Heritage Council provides 75% of salary costs; in the second year 50%; in the third and subsequent years 25%. Each local authority is responsible for paying the remaining portion of the salary from its own funding.
With regard to the cost of doubling the funding for biodiversity officers, of which there are currently 36 across all local authorities, the estimated costs would be as follows:
|
Area |
Cost for 1 Officer |
Total additional 36 officers |
|
Current expenditure |
€81,297 |
€2,926,689 |
|
Capital expenditure |
€20,000 |
€720,000 |
|
Total: |
€101,297 |
€3,646,688 |
The current expenditure figures above cover the full cost of employing a Biodiversity Officer, including salary costs starting at Point 1 of the Local Authority Grade 7 pay scale, plus estimated travel and subsistence costs. The salary costs include any Heritage Council subvention, which varies depending on number of years since they were recruited, as outlined above, plus the remaining portion of salary that is paid for by the Local Authority. The figures provided for capital expenditure include an amount of €20,000 per officer, which is made available to Biodiversity Officers via the Heritage Council to implement the Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
In relation to Community Climate Action Officers, these are under the remit of my colleague, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, and neither my Department, nor the Heritage Council, have any involvement in this regard.
