Public Consultation Opens on Grey Squirrel Study for Dublin–Wicklow Region

A new study on the management of grey squirrels across the Dublin–Wicklow region will open for public consultation on Monday 8 June. Grey squirrels are an invasive species in Ireland and continue to be present across the Dublin and Wicklow area. To better understand how they can be managed, a partnership of local authorities, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council and Wicklow County Council along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), have commissioned a feasibility study.

The study will look at possible options for managing grey squirrels across the wider region. It will assess what approaches are practical, sustainable and acceptable, taking into account environmental, social, legal and financial factors, as well as the resources and skills required.

As part of this work, members of the public are invited to share their views through a short online survey. The survey is being hosted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and will run from 8 June to 28 June 2026.

Dr Emma Sheehy, who is leading the study, said:  

We are encouraging anyone in the Dublin & Wicklow area who has an interest in the topic to take part in our online survey. It should only take five minutes of your time and will be fundamental in helping us to understand how people feel about red squirrels, grey squirrels and in particular, how people feel about grey squirrel control”.

The survey will be available here from Monday 8 June.
Take part in the Grey Squirrel Feasibility Study survey