-Ministers announce acceleration of Conservation Ranger Recruitment-
Following their visit to the site of this weekend’s fire in Killarney National Park, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State for Heritage Malcom Noonan TD have announced the accelerated recruitment of an additional 50 Conservation Rangers.
Both Ministers strongly condemned the illegal fires that took place over the weekend in Counties Kerry and Mayo, which damaged protected habitats and species, put communities and private property at risk and placed unnecessary additional burden on the emergency services.
Early estimations indicate that 2,500-3,000 hectares – approximately 50% of the terrestrial area of the park – has been impacted (terrestrial area is the total area of the park less the area of the lakes).
Minister O’Brien said: “While the exact cause of these events is still to be determined, wildfires do not occur naturally in Ireland. The main cause of such conflagrations is thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the emergency services, the local wildlife, habitat, communities or even private property close by. And they are set knowing them to be illegal. The devastation this has caused cannot be overstated.
“The response on the ground has been an impressive combined effort between the Fire Service, the NPWS and the Air Corps which has thankfully resulted in the fire being brought under control.”
Minister Noonan said: “Every year we see devastating fires across our island, started illegally by people who have zero regard for the consequences. This weekend’s fires have destroyed the precious habitats of thousands of species and animals, rare and endangered birds, including Hen Harriers. We are in a climate and biodiversity emergency, and to deliberately destroy precious upland habitats in this way is absolutely criminal. I’m thoroughly devastated by what I’ve witnessed here today.
“The reckless and shameful deliberate setting of fires has enormous impacts on people as well as nature. My heart goes out to the communities who live in these areas and have to breathe in the smoke, the individuals and families whose property is put at risk, and of course to our emergency services who put themselves in the front line. In the midst of a pandemic it is incredible that our emergency services are put in a position whereby their resources are pulled in this direction. In this regard I must express my appreciation for the Fire Service, An Garda Síochána, Killarney Water Rescue, the Air Corps, my National Park and Wildlife Service staff in Killarney and the local Meitheal who have worked tirelessly together to quench this fire.
“I’m heartened to be able to announce that we’re doubling our intake of NPWS Conservation Rangers and accelerating the recruitment process. I’ll also be writing to colleagues across government in key Ministries and appealing to them to work with us to end these all-too-frequent tragedies. In addition, the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be working with An Garda Síochána to investigate the cause of the fire and fully assess the damage. If anyone has any information about the fires in Kerry or Mayo, I appeal to you to contact your local NPWS office or the Gardaí.”
Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August.
Minister O’Brien concluded: “I would like to take this opportunity to again express our deep appreciation for the Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service staff, the Air Corps, An Garda Síochána, and the Civil Defence who work tirelessly and selflessly to battle these fires around the country year in and year out. It is incumbent on all of us as custodians of nature and the land to work together to find solutions to avoid this happening in the future.
“It is very difficult to stop the spread of these fires once ignited given the sheer scale of land involved, coupled with the remote locations of much of the designated lands and the sporadic occurrence and dynamic nature of such fires. The NPWS staff remain ever-vigilant and remain in close liaison with both the Gardaí and the Fire Services. Minister Noonan and I are pleased to announce today that our Department will be accelerating the recruitment of some 50 additional Rangers, providing additional resources to assist in responding to such fires and wildlife crime more generally and indeed to stop it from happening in the first instance.”
Ends