Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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723. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the engagement with Dublin City Council in relation to Martin Savage Park and the cessation of a Part 8 planning process to redevelop the park with an all-weather pitch, community garden, perimeter paving, play zone and public lighting, due to the presence of Brent geese; his plans to address the matter; and his views on the matter which could have consequences for parks across the city and county. [46638/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department met with officials from Dublin City Council on 7 October 2024, and have been in correspondence subsequently. I attended a specific meeting on 10 October with club officials, Minister O’Gorman and Cllr Feljin Jose, in relation to Martin Savage Park where the issue of sports pitches being used by light-bellied Brent geese and related proposals to convert some of these lands to all-weather surfaces was discussed.

At this meeting it was proposed that all Dublin Local Authorities would form a steering group to prepare a Strategic Plan that would be used to inform future management of areas used by the geese and also to inform scientifically-robust decisions where changes in land use are proposed. Balancing the needs of communities with international nature conservation obligations would be at the heart of this work.

I can confirm that following the meeting, Minister O'Brien and I wrote to the Chief Executives of the Dublin Local Authorities to encourage them to commence work on the Strategic Plan and determine next steps. We have received positive responses, including from Dublin City Council, and the next step is to convene the steering group in Q1 2025, ideally facilitated by one of the Local Authorities.

The NPWS is committed to supporting the Local Authorities, including Dublin City Council, through active discussion and participation in the steering group, and will have a role in establishing conservation targets for this species in Dublin city and environs. Key decisions as to how these targets can be attained will be taken by the Local Authorities and those responsible for the development and management of land.