Wildlife Body the NPWS clarifies involvement in Merlin Woods biodiversity discussions

The National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, has clarified its involvement in Merlin Woods biodiversity discussions, stating it was only 'informally' contacted over biodiversity at the site, as questions over environmental oversight of the works are raised in the Oireachtas.

Published 9th Oct 2026, 19:20 BST .Joe O'Shaughnessy The National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, has clarified its involvement in Merlin Woods biodiversity discussions, stating it was only 'informally' contacted over biodiversity at the site, as questions over environmental oversight of the works are raised in the Oireachtas. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has said it was contacted “informally” about biodiversity at Merlin Woods, despite being named as one of the stakeholders in Galway City Council's original notice for the woodland works.

The notice, published in March, stated that detailed plans would be prepared with stakeholders including the NPWS, Friends of Merlin Woods, the University of Galway School of Natural Sciences and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

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In a new statement to the Galway City Tribune, the NPWS clarified the extent of its involvement.

“NPWS was contacted informally in respect of types of biodiversity at the site,” the statement said.

“Functions in relation to Forestry regulation or tree-felling licensing under the Forestry Act 2014 or the NeighbourWood Schemes fall to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”

High Court orders temporary halt to tree felling at Merlin Woods Only one company responded to Merlin Woods works notice The University of Galway's Dr Colin Lawton, who provided advice on red squirrels, has also clarified that he was not involved in the decision to clearfell the woodland.

“I wasn't involved in the decision to clearfell the woodland,” he told the Galway City Tribune.

“The advice I gave was in relation to the best habitat for red squirrels in the event of the wood being replanted, ensuring connectivity of the remaining stands within the woodland and using supplementary feeding to try to maintain the squirrel population until the woods are producing food naturally,” he said.

Questions over the environmental oversight of the works have now been raised in both Houses of the Oireachtas.

In the Dáil, Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell (SF) sought details on the number of squirrel dreys identified in areas where trees were felled, how many were protected and how often an ecologist had visited the site.

She also questioned what measures had been taken to protect other wildlife and how the works aligned with the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

“It is hard to put into words the importance of Merlin Woods for the community in which I live,” said Deputy Farrell.

“It is one of the only green spaces on the east side of Galway city. It is surrounded by Doughiska and Ballybane, and slightly further on are Renmore, Mervue and Roscam, all of which are areas that have benefited from that green space.

“To be honest, it is actually hard to understand or fathom in any way why these woods - this local amenity - are being destroyed in the way that they are.”

‘Fallen trees’ at heart of dispute over Merlin Woods clear-felling Galway City Council puts €130,000–€160,000 value on Merlin Woods timber The Dáil was also told that Galway City Council does not require a forestry felling licence for the works because Merlin Woods falls within an “urban area”.

Minister of State Neale Richmond said the Department of Agriculture had neither received nor issued an application for a felling licence for the woods.

“The felling of trees normally requires a licence issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance with requirements set out in the Forestry Act 2014,” he said.

“However, on this occasion, the council was not required to obtain a tree-felling licence because the Forestry Act contains an exemption from the requirement to have a tree-felling licence for trees in an ‘urban area’.

“This means that Galway City Council is entitled to fell trees in the urban areas which are part of its remit without having to notify the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”

Minister Richmond stressed that other legal requirements continued to apply, including provisions under planning legislation.

Merlin Woods last gasp efforts to stop tree clearfelling failed over major problem as wildlife body probe The role of the NPWS was separately raised in the Seanad by Senator Anne Rabbitte (FF).

Last week, the NPWS told the Galway City Tribune that it has no statutory responsibility for the management of Merlin Woods, although it remains open to working with stakeholders to protect biodiversity.

“It was disappointing that, when the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, was called upon to take responsibility and flex its muscles when it came to statutory powers, it had none because the response of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was that the NPWS did not have any statutory responsibility in relation to the management of Merlin Woods,” said Senator Rabbitte.

“At the end of the day, if a farmer was cutting down trees or burning at the back of their field, the NPWS would not be long finding its statutory responsibility.

“I find it a little bit irksome that the NPWS could not have worked with the local authority and supported the local community as well as listened to the elected representatives on the ground.”

Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell said Galway City Council had a key role in the management of Merlin Woods, including the protection and enhancement of its “biodiversity, natural heritage and amenity value”.

It is hard to put into words the importance of Merlin Woods for the community in which I live.

Senator Rabbitte called for Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan to intervene and for communication between the council and NPWS to begin immediately.

Galway City Council has said an independent arborist recommended harvesting a 3.5-hectare section of mature Norway spruce after Storm Éowyn left the remaining trees more exposed and at risk of further failure.

The council maintains the work is necessary on public safety grounds and that the area will be replanted with native broadleaf woodland.

Funding for replanting under the NeighbourWood Scheme had not yet been secured when the council briefed the media on the works.