363. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's policy on the commencement of work on sites where ecological impact assessments are over five years old and significant activity of a protected species has been observed, such as the establishment of a bat colony, in the intervening five years. [67987/26]

In a scenario whereby a protected species occupies a permitted development site after the development has received consent, regardless of the intervening time period it is incumbent on the person(s) undertaking the development works to ensure that the species is protected in accordance with Irish wildlife legislation including the Wildlife Acts, as amended and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, as amended.

In the example of bats, which is subject to a system of strict protection, certain activities involved in construction of development can give rise to disturbance of bats and may also affect their roosting sites. Developers are advised to seek ways to avoid such conflicts where they may arise and to consult the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) if necessary. Guidance can also be found on the NPWS website.