1578. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the grant funding available to resident's groups or organisations towards the cost of establishing rewilding projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58914/26]

1865. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grant funding made available by his Department to resident's groups or organisations towards the cost of establishing rewilding projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58966/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1578 and 1865 together.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves.

The NPWS is responsible for a range of grant schemes and funding programmes aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation, the protection and restoration of habitats and species and increased public engagement with Ireland's natural heritage. There are two particular schemes of relevance. The Peatland and Natura Community Engagement Scheme (PNCES) is open to community groups and organisations and provides funding towards the cost of conservation projects, and the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) supports Local Authority-led biodiversity projects involving community groups.

The Peatland and Natura Community Engagement Scheme (PNCES) is an annual grant funding scheme open to community groups and other organisations. The scheme’s purpose is to support community-led projects that promote the conservation, restoration and awareness of Ireland’s Natura 2000 network and all peatland sites, including NHA and undesignated sites.

Further information can be found at: www.npws.ie/peatlands-and-turf-cutting/peatlands-and-natura-community-engagement-scheme-2026 .

The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF), previously National Biodiversity Action Plan Local Authority Grant Scheme, assists local authorities in the implementation of actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The funding stream is available to biodiversity officers and heritage officers and enables them to develop projects that address biodiversity loss in their localities by raising awareness for biodiversity, creating new habitats, restoring existing ones and by tackling invasive alien species.

Further information regarding the scheme and previously approved projects can be found at: www.npws.ie/legislation/national-biodiversity-action-plan/local-biodiversity-action-fund .