asked the Minister for Finance if the wildlife section of his Department has undertaken any survey or whether they are monitoring the number of badgers in Ireland over the past 15 years; whether the number of badgers has increased or decreased; and whether there has been an increase in the number of badgers in the midlands area; particularly in Counties Offaly and Westmeath.
Written Answers. - Badger Survey.
64.
The systematic collection of data on the numbers of badgers in Ireland has not been undertaken.
In relation to the population sizes of individual species, the critical factors are the general status nationally of any population and the degree to which any existing threats may adversely affect that status.
There is no indication that there has been any significant increase or decrease in the number of badgers in the country generally or in the midlands area in particular.