Fórsa has concluded an agreement to formalise mobility arrangements and vacancy-filling for district conservation officer and conservation ranger grades in the national parks and wildlife service.

Negotiations began last year on foot of a motion at the branch’s annual general meeting. Following constructive engagement with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the matter was brought to a conclusion this week.

“It was particularly necessary to bring immediate clarity to this matter given the dramatic upsurge in visitors to national parks during the Covid-19 outbreak to allow for a uniform approach to be in place to fill outstanding – and now immediate – vacancies,” said Fórsa assistant general secretary Seán Carabini.

The agreement will be reviewed after a year to ensure a formal mechanism to address any operational matters that arise.