Wildlife crime prosecutions
Deputy Whitmore highlighted a sharp rise in wildlife crime reports and a collapse in prosecutions, citing NPWS figures and questions about enforcement. The Taoiseach said he would engage with the Minister of State and NPWS, noting increased staffing and resources and stressing enforcement alongside conservation.
The Irish Times reported-----
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-----on figures that my colleague, Deputy Liam Quaide, obtained. Reports of wildlife crime to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, have nearly doubled in five years.
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Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle.
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I will start again. The Irish Times reported yesterday on figures that my colleague, Deputy Liam Quaide, obtained showing that reports of wildlife crime to the National Parks and Wildlife Service nearly doubled in five years, from 301 incidents in 2021 to 581 last year. These are serious offences and include illegal hedgerow removal, habitat destruction and unauthorised drainage, yet prosecutions collapsed to just 17 in 2024. That is one prosecution for every 34 reported crimes. Three entire counties had zero prosecutions in five years. Yet, when Deputy Quaide sought answers from the NPWS on its staffing capacity, the Minister of State refused to provide them. Without enforcement our wildlife laws are not worth the paper they are written on. Will the Taoiseach commit to a full review of the enforcement capacity of the NPWS and ensure there is transparency about the staffing of national parks in all regions?
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I read that report and I will engage with the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, and the NPWS. I think we have roughly doubled the staffing level of the NPWS in the past five years and have provided it with additional resources, correctly so. The Minister of State is very focused on the enforcement dimension. There has been good success also in terms of conservation and the biodiversity side of the equation, so to speak. Enforcement is important because we need to stop this crime. It is interesting that in the initial phase of the reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle there were some cases of birds being poisoned many years ago but with education and by working with co-ops and people, a better understanding emerged. That programme is now a resounding success. Enforcement is important but education and working with people to change attitudes and culture are also very valuable inputs to this.