Joe O'Brien - Green Party
Joe O’Brien, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities Welcomes Increase of €700k for Environmental NGOs
18th January, 2021
Welcome news for Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation in Fingal
Minister of State for Community Development and Charities and Green Party T.D for Fingal, Joe O’Brien, has welcomed today’s announcement by Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of over a €700k increase in funding to environmental NGOs. This represents an increase of almost 70% in funding for the sector for 2021 to €1.76m.
Fingal has an abundance of areas of special conservation and special protection areas which such NGOs strive to protect and enhance these natural environments in the County for the benefit of our communities now and for generations to come.
Minister Joe O’Brien, Green Party Spokesperson for Community Development and Charities said,
“Environmental NGOs in Ireland play a critical role in a broad range of environmental issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity and climate change. In Fingal we are extreamly fortunate to count ourselves as a County with some of the most outstanding conservation and protection areas in the country.”
“Our special conservation areas such as Rogerstown and Malahide/Broadmeadow Estuaries, Baldoyle Bay, dedicated such to protect the wild flora and fauna, are home to many endangered species and the work of the environmental NGOs ensures they remain intact and have an opportunity to reverse the damage that led to their decline.”
The Fingal coast is also especially important for wild birds and designated Special Protection Areas in Fingal include Baldoyle Bay, Rogerstown and Malahide/Broadmeadow Esturaries, Lambay Island and Rockabill Island and Skerries Islands. The additional funding announced further supports great emphasis on the protection of habitats for endangered and migratory species in our county. It is also is a welcome recognition of these challenges for the environmental NGO sector and a recognition of the central role these organisations must play in the years ahead.”
Announcing the €1.76m in funding, Minister Ryan stated,
“It is vital that we support a strong environmental civil society, which does vital work throughout the country in tackling climate change and protecting the natural environment for the benefit of communities and ensuring a legacy for future generations. This increase in funding will go towards strengthening support for this sector to ensure that environmental issues take centre stage in Ireland and internationally.”
According to the Irish Environmental Network there are almost 35,000 members working throughout the country to protect and enhance the natural environment. Volunteers contribute 6 million unpaid hours annually saving the exchequer an estimated €55m.
For further information contact: Karen Power: karen.power@oireachtas.ie