Renewed call for Biodiversity Officer to be appointed

Green Cllr Mark Hackett is due to put a motion before Monday's Offaly County Council meeting asking the local authority to engage with the Department of Housing Local Government to recruit and employ a Biodiversity Officer.

Funding has been made available by the council to employ a Biodiversity Officer but after checking with the council Cllr Hackett found that a candidate has not yet been recruited. “I’m bringing this motion to put a bit of pressure on Offaly County Council to get this done and to get a Biodiversity Officer in Offaly because I think it’s vital even as a signal going forward that we’re taking the whole thing seriously.

“My wife Pippa brought a motion three years ago asking the council to declare that there was a biodiversity crisis in the county and that was passed. We have a biodiversity plan for the county as well so really, it’s just the next step. I want to have someone in place by the end of the year.”