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The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has spent approximately €12m on land acquisitions in the year to date.
It has added 3,275ac to its land portfolio this year, including high nature value land, dune systems, protected foreshore, upland blanket bogs and dry heaths, river basins and native woodland.
While the price of each parcel of land will differ, a crude estimate shows that the State has bought these lands for an average price of €3,664/ac.
The NPWS falls under the remit of the Department of Housing and in a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal it said that it “occasionally purchases high value nature land for strategic and conservation purposes”.
Important site
Two weeks ago, Minister of State for nature Malcolm Noonan announced that the State was going to purchase the 50ac Clawinch Island, on Lough Ree, Co Longford, for an undisclosed sum.
The island was identified as the most important site in Ireland for breeding water birds.
“In light of commercial sensitivity, [the] NPWS is not in a position to provide further comment until the sale process concludes,” the department said.
Since January 2024, the NPWS has completed land acquisitions in seven counties.
It bought 2,132ac in Kerry, including the 1,400ac Conor Pass near Dingle for a fee of less than €6m. It bought another 426ac in Clare this year and 619ac in Galway.
The State has also purchased 52ac in Mayo, 29.96ac in Kildare, 9.19ac in Cork and 5ac in Westmeath. Last year, it spent €12m on the 552ac former Devenish farm in Dowth, Co Meath.
The department confirmed the figures are in relation to land acquisitions that are fully completed and do not include acquisitions that are sale agreed.
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