€172m of core Heritage funding with additional funding due in 2025 for an overall €255m
Heritage funding up 140% since 2020
Core National Parks & Wildlife Service funding up 170% since 2020 to €78m
This week, the Government delivered its fifth and final budget to the Dáil and I'm pleased to say that it's another record budget for Nature and Heritage. Over my five budgets in office, I've delivered historic funding for nature, heritage and water quality and which underscores this Government’s commitment to our biodiversity, water quality and heritage. It’s a privilege to be part of a Government that understands the value of our natural and built heritage, and ensures that it is protected for the benefit of all, and it's vital that the next Government keeps this trajectory going.
This year, we've increased core Heritage funding to almost €172m. When I took office in 2020, this funding stood at €72m. Together with additional funding due to come in 2025, it's an overall package of €255m for Heritage in 2025. I'm proud to have delivered this record investment in heritage that will enable my Department to expand its work with communities, specialists and stakeholders all over the country to ensure that our our built heritage and national monuments are conserved, restored and resilient for the future.
For nature, I've delivered €78m of core National Parks & Wildlife Service funding for 2025. This is up from just €29m in 2020 and this level of investment has already transformed the NPWS through an increase in resources and additional staff. This increase in funding comes at a critical time for nature and reflects this Government’s continued commitment to addressing the Biodiversity Emergency. This will equip the NPWS to lead the preparations for a National Nature Restoration Plan and turn the tide on biodiversity loss in partnership with farmers, fishers, foresters and community groups.
National Parks
The NPWS funding includes €29m for National Parks and Nature Reserves. This is a four-fold increase in funding over the five budgets during my term. In my time in office, we've delivered two new national parks for the people of Ireland: Brú na Bóinne and Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí - the first new national parks in 25 years. This funding will enable us to protect, restore and enhance what we have, improve the visitor experience and create new ones where we can.
Science, Research and Nature Protection
The NPWS funding also includes an increase in funding for Science, Research and Nature Protection, which now stands at €23m and has also increased four-fold during my term. This funding will enable NPWS to conserve species and habitats in our most precious places for nature and across the wider countryside and meet our legal obligations under the Birds and Habitats Directives. It will further support our ongoing work to bring wildlife criminals to justice, work hand in hand with farmers, fishers, foresters and community groups and plan for the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law which this government has led on in Ireland and in Europe.
Water Quality
Funding for water quality and the implementation of the Government’s Water Action Plan has increased to almost €40m in 2025 which is a 55% increase since 2020. This investment will enable us to improve our water quality through protecting and restoring our rivers, lakes and estuaries in line with our obligations under the Water Framework Directive and work with farmers, State bodies and local authorities.
Built Heritage & Monuments
During my term, support for the National Built Heritage Service and the National Monuments Service has increased from €9m in 2020 to €27m in 2025. This will enable us to support the conservation, restoration and resilience of the historic buildings, ancient ring forts, mediaeval churchyards, castle ruins and countless other structures of historical and archaeological interest across the State, as well as strategic capital funding for projects of national importance. To date, we've supported over 3,000 heritage projects in communities across the country through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Community Monuments Fund and the Historic Structures Fund. under this Government.
Heritage Council
We've increased funding for The Heritage Council €18.8m which is a 150% on 2020. This will enable The Heritage Council to continue their fantastic work raising public awareness of and engagement in our heritage through Heritage Week, continue to grow their grant programmes and support their Heritage Officer programme and Biodiversity Officer programme with local authorities.
Electoral Reform
We've made huge progress on electoral reform and this will continue in Budget 2025 through €9.5m for the Franchise department. This includes funding to modernise our electoral register, deliver a shared electoral registration system across all local authorities and to implement a new system for electing members of the six Seanad university seats as we expand the eligibility to all Designated Institutions of Higher Education.
Watch back: On Wednesday evening I was proud to give my Oireachtas colleagues an overview of this record budget for nature and heritage and to commend Budget 2025 to the House.
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