I thank Deputy O'Gorman for proposing this motion today. It is particularly welcome because the protection of our natural world and climate action are foundational to everything else but have dropped off the political agenda to an alarming degree. Last week, near Cobh in my own constituency, constituents reported extensive hedgerow destruction during nesting season. The people who witnessed this activity were very distressed by what was happening. They reported it to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which told them that it had no staff to send out to investigate. They also reported it to An Garda Síochána but no intervention followed. I appealed to the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, to redeploy NPWS staff from outside east Cork. I appreciate him doing so in a timely fashion. It was also appreciated by local residents. However, this episode really highlights the absolute gutting of NPWS resources in east Cork for years now, which has left the region entirely exposed as regards the enforcement of wildlife protection provisions. As I have raised here previously, it is incredible that east Cork has not had a ranger for 12 of the last 15 years. It has also had no district conservation officer for close to two years and there has been no regional manager over east Cork and Waterford for years. We are now in the extraordinary position whereby if something serious happens in east Cork, such as the destruction of hedgerows or habitats, staff have to be deployed from outside of the region, which only happened in this case following an appeal to a Minister, because the NPWS in the region is so overstretched. As happened in Cobh, all too often immense damage will already have been done by the time there is any investigation. Hedgerows are vital habitats. They are nesting sites, wildlife corridors and part of the ecological fabric of rural communities. They also help with the retention of excess rainfall, thereby contributing to flood mitigation. When I previously looked into whether there had been efforts to recruit for these long-vacant positions in east Cork, the responses I received from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan's, Department were so opaque as to be insulting. This really needs to be prioritised for east Cork.

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