merrion street

Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht this afternoon launched the National Biodiversity Data Centre Strategic Plan 2013-2017 in Ely Place.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre was set up for the collection, collation, management, analysis and dissemination of data on Ireland's biological diversity. It was established by the Heritage Council in 2007 in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology and is funded largely by grant aid from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It collects data from all the sources it can, and outputs mainly through a web portal, called Biodiversity Maps.

The Data Centre has published a Strategic Plan 2013-2017 to clearly set out its role, and to identify how the work of the Data Centre can assist delivery of actions in the National Biodiversity Plan.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Minister Deenihan said “As well as the funding of €400,000 set by my Department for each of the years 2011 to 2013 to meet the costs of the Centre, I am pleased that the Strategy foresees plenty of cooperation with other agencies and Departments towards a number of goals that we see as important – such as the development of a full national habitat map; up-to-date information on invasive alien species; and a national vegetation classification. We are fortunate to have individuals with such commitment and ability working to collect and share biological information.”