Minister Noonan welcomes €172 million package for nature and heritage

‘Record budget for nature and heritage’ demonstrates Government’s commitment to biodiversity, water quality and heritage
Funding will enhance National Parks and Nature Reserves, protect rivers and lakes and conserve our national monuments and built heritage
Budget measures will strengthen heritage sector and its engagement with partners and the public

Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD has welcomed measures in Budget 2025 to conserve and restore nature and heritage.

Speaking earlier today, the Minister said:

“This government has delivered another record budget for nature and heritage this year. We’ve announced funding of €172m which will protect and restore nature, conserve and enhance our built heritage and our national monuments. This investment is up by over 11% from last year and includes €90 million in capital funding along with €82 million in current funding.

This Budget demonstrates this Government’s continued commitment to protecting our biodiversity, water quality and heritage. We have now seen a €100 million increase in core funding for heritage over the lifetime of this Government.”

Budget 2025 includes increased funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service:

“Overall funding for the NPWS will increase by over 25% from last year, to a total of €78 million. €29 million of this will protect, restore and enhance our National Parks and Nature Reserves. I’ve also committed an additional €6.5 million for Science, Research and Nature Protection, to enable us to protect and restore species and habitats in the wider countryside, meet our legal obligations under the Birds and Habitats Directive, and support our ongoing work to bring wildlife criminals to justice.

This Budget comes at a critical time for nature with the introduction of the Nature Restoration Regulation, and will equip the NPWS with the resources to lead the preparations for a National Nature Restoration Plan, in partnership with farmers, fishers, foresters and community groups.”

Budget 2025 brings increased investment in water quality and the implementation of the Government’s Water Action Plan.

“We are increasing the funding for water quality by €4.5 million to almost €40 million, up 13% on 2024. This will enable us to invest in the protection and restoration of our rivers, lakes and estuaries in line with our obligations under the Water Framework Directive, and to work with farmers, state bodies and local authorities to improve water quality.”

Funding for Built Heritage and National Monuments will also increase by 6%.

“Over €27 million in this Budget will support even more communities across the country to conserve their local built heritage and archaeological monuments. I’m also delighted to announce an increase in funding for the Heritage Council, to almost €19 million. This will enable them to continue to raise public awareness of, and engagement in our heritage, to grow their grant programmes and support Local Authorities as a key partner in nature and heritage.”

ENDS

Note to Editor

Additional nature and heritage measures in Budget 2025 include:

Increasing investment in high nature-value habitats that support a range of vulnerable species.
Meeting our EU and International obligations under European Directives and international commitments.
Continuing the implementation of Heritage Ireland 2030, Ireland’s heritage plan and Programme for Government commitments.
A 15% increase in operational funding for the National Monuments and National Built Heritage Services to record, conserve, and promote our archaeological and built heritage.
Increase capital support for our archaeological and built heritage through the Community Monuments Fund, Built Heritage Investment Scheme, and Historic Structures Fund, including conservation advice grants to help bring vacant traditional buildings back into residential use.
Extending the roll-out of professional heritage positions in Local Authorities to support the protection, management, and promotion of heritage assets under Local Authority control (Heritage Council).
Maintaining and invest in waterways through Waterways Ireland and support and investing in cross-border initiatives under Shared Island and NDNA, such as the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water Bridge.