To ask the Minister of Justice whether there is any consideration to retrospectively install swift bricks on departmental buildings which do not have them installed.

The Department recognises the importance of supporting biodiversity and protecting species such as swifts, whose nesting habitats have declined in recent years.

There has been no specific assessment to date of a programme of retrospective installation of swift bricks across the existing estate, which comprises a large number of older buildings and operates within a constrained budget.

Within this context, the Department will continue to explore opportunities to incorporate swift bricks or alternative nesting features on a case-by-case basis, particularly where works are already planned and can be delivered in a proportionate and practical way. In doing so, the Department remains supportive of appropriate, evidence-based measures that contribute to biodiversity enhancement, in line with the planning process and in consultation with the relevant statutory authorities.