Office of Public Works

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I request access to all records held by the Office of Public Works (OPW) relating to the impacts of the LATEST removal of established vegetation at Gay’s Avenue, Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, on solitary mason bees (Osmia spp.) and other pollinators, including any consideration of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Appropriate Assessment (AA), ecological screening, or other assessments, and any compliance with the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). This request includes records created before, during, and after the works, in electronic, paper, email, draft, informal, or final form, whether created internally or by external consultants or contractors acting on behalf of OPW. 1. Impact Assessments All records evaluating or recording the impacts of the vegetation removal on solitary mason bees or other pollinators, including: a. Loss of hollow-stem habitats, pithy twigs, or other nesting sites; b. Destruction of overwintering cocoons; c. Observed or anticipated reductions in pollinator populations or activity; d. Post-clearance ecological assessments of insect or pollinator populations; e. Any environmental or ecological screenings, assessments, or evaluations conducted in relation to pollinator impacts, including consideration under EIA or AA procedures. 2. Decision-Making and Advice All records reflecting advice, recommendations, or decisions regarding the potential impacts on pollinators from the vegetation clearance, including: a. Internal or external correspondence regarding risks to solitary mason bees or pollinator habitat; b. Advice from OPW ecologists or the biodiversity officer (e.g., Lorcan Scott); c. Justifications for vegetation removal in light of potential pollinator impacts. 3. Mitigation and Management All records relating to mitigation or management measures to reduce impacts on solitary mason bees or other pollinators, including: a. Habitat protection, relocation, or artificial nesting measures; b. Timing restrictions to avoid harm to overwintering cocoons; c. Plans for post-clearance habitat restoration or replanting. 4. Duty of Care and Responsibility All records evidencing OPW’s consideration of its duty of care for pollinators in the context of the works, including: a. Identification of staff responsible for ensuring protection of solitary mason bees; b. Guidance or instructions to contractors regarding pollinator impacts. 5. Compliance with Biodiversity Obligations All records evidencing how OPW considered, implemented, or followed obligations under the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) in relation to solitary mason bees, other pollinators, and the cleared vegetation at Gay’s Avenue, including: a. Internal guidance, instructions, or policies referencing pollinator protection; b. Reports, notes, or correspondence demonstrating that works were planned or executed in accordance with NBAP objectives; c. Any monitoring or review of pollinator impacts specifically to comply with NBAP goals;