Vol. 417 No. 2
12 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Energy whether the forestry section of his Department have any policy with regard to the provision of wildlife reservations and sanctuaries for the rearing of game-birds and other forms of wildlife in strategic locations around the country.
The conservation of wildlife and the development of wildlife reserves and sanctuaries are the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. However, it is my policy that all forestry development shall contribute to the improvement of the environment, including the protection and encouragement of wildlife, both flora and fauna, and specific measures, have been introduced in this regard. The planned recreational forestry scheme, which I recently introduced, provides grant aid for the planting or upgrading of forests with public recreational facilities, which can include walks and nature trails, deer stalking and game shooting areas.
One of the difficulties here is the division of responsibilities and the question of control over the provision of such wildlife reserves and sanctuaries. The Minister has referred to various types of recretional activity in our forests such as walks and tourist-related activities. Does the Minister consult with the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications or with the Department of Finance, who deal also with wildlife?
There is constant consultation with the Office of Public Works, in particular, which is a sub-office of the Department of Finance. The Deputy will appreciate, as I said earlier, that ministerial and departmental responsibility in these matters lies with them. But as I indicated, the Minister is anxious that forestry development would contribute to the improvement of the environment and where at all possible the new scheme which he introduced last month, the planned recreational forestry scheme, would contribute to the provision of recreational facilities in forests both public and, I believe private.
Because so many questions are tabled to the Department of Finance, I might have to wait a year before my question on wildlife would be taken. Is the Miniser aware of any plans to update the 1976 Wildlife Act, which was very helpful in its day but has now outlived its usefulness and needs to be updated?
That Act is under the supervision and administration of the Minister for Finance and with the greatest respect to the Deputy he should direct his question there because it would be invidious of me to try to answer. I do not have firsthand knowledge of what plans, if any, the Minister for Finance has in regard to that.
