Austin Deasy
Question:46 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the mechanisms, if any, in place for the monitoring of endangered wildlife species; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2792/99]
Other Questions. - Endangered Species.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to Question No. 35 of 11 March 1998 and Question No. 147 of 1 July 1998 on this matter.
As I explained to the Deputy, Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, has an ongoing wildlife monitoring programme in place which carries out regular surveys of our wildlife, both flora and fauna. Endangered or protected wildlife receive priority under this programme.
In addition to specific schemes relating to species such as the corncrake, the grey partridge, the roseate tern and the hen harrier, the designation and protection of special protection areas and special areas of conservation will contribute sig nificantly to the maintenance of suitable habitats for these and other species of wild birds. This, together with the environmental benefits from improved farm practices under the rural environment protection scheme, will represent a significant benefit for the protection of our wildlife, including birds.
How many personnel are engaged in monitoring activities? Are the numbers sufficient to do the job properly? I have serious reservations about this. The Minister mentioned several species which are in danger and which are being monitored, such as the hen harrier. However, recently I read that more common species such as the yellow hammer and the lapwing are becoming endangered. I wonder if sufficient resources exist and if not, whether the Minister intends bolstering that section of her Department to ensure we know what is happening.
I thank the Deputy for his interest in this matter. There is hardly a Question Time when Deputy Deasy does not raise these issues and he is perfectly correct to do so.
The Green Party does not seem to exist when it comes to this area.
I am waiting my turn.
The Deputies can fight that out among themselves. I have said on a number of occasions that we would like far more resources to deal with this matter, but the existing research and survey programmes adequately address the threats posed to wildlife. We are making the best possible use of available resources.
I asked what personnel is available. The Minister referred to Dúchas. Does it publish a weekly, monthly or annual reports identifying species? If so, is it circulated? If it is, I have not seen it.
Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, has responsibility in this regard and has an ongoing wildlife monitoring programme in place which carries out regular surveys on all aspects of our wildlife, both flora and fauna. If the Deputy has any particular species in mind – he has already mentioned some which are causing particular concern – I will try to furnish him with the details of research or survey data available to me. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the publication of the red data books on which Dúchas has extensively collaborated in recent years. These provide a very useful guide to many of the threatened species of wildlife and their conservation status.
Does the Minister agree that publication of the Dúchas bulletin on a regular basis would be an excellent idea and would allow us know what is happening? I read these titbits of information, which I use to put down questions, in the Sunday newspapers such as the Sunday Tribune, which for some reason carries such titbits. If it were not for such sources, I would not know what is going on in the countryside. I find it objectionable that whatever monitoring is taking place is not recorded and passed on to the general public. I am asking that a bulletin be issued telling us the state of play in the context of various species, particularly those which are endangered.
With respect to the Deputy, that information is already to hand in the red data books and that is why Dúchas collaborates extensively in providing that extra information. The Deputy will be interested to know that there is every intention to carry out further surveys. For example, major surveys have been undertaken or are planned in relation to the following species: badger, countryside birds, raised bogs, Greenland white fronted geese, grey partridge, Irish wetlands birds, blanket bogs, corncrake, tern, the hen harriers and others. If the Deputy wishes to table questions or write me a note inquiring about specific species I will do my best to see he gets the information.
Deputy Deasy's comments are commendable in the context of information being available to the general public who have an interest in the matter. Does the monitoring which takes place – those whom I know undertake it are very good – take into account any analysis of what happens at landfill sites where there are vermin and all kinds of pollutants as a result of agricultural sprays? For example, over this winter have there been any reports of endangered species being shot or trapped?
Or poisoned.
In answer to the second question, such information has not come to my attention. If the Deputies have any evidence or are particularly worried about any situation I would welcome direct contact from them. Regarding making information available, of course I would like to see the provision of further moneys, but we all realise that when we do not have the amount of moneys at hand which we would like, we must deal with the difficulties which arise in ensuring threats to endangered species are immediately addressed.
Rubbish dumps and all that.
Is the Minister prepared to make the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill a new starting point in terms of monitoring as referred to by Deputy Deasy and which was the subject of many questions in terms of the delay in introducing the Bill which I tabled to the Government of which Deputy Deasy was a part?
I think the Deputy would like to be part of the Government this time around. The Deputy was volunteering to join the Government parties.
Does the Minister consider the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill a starting point for bringing us up to date in our European commitments in terms of submissions of special areas of conservation and all the other designated areas which are seriously lacking? BirdWatch Ireland declares that Ireland has the worst record of all EU members in terms of compliance with wildlife directives.
The Deputy is correct in saying we have been waiting a long time – between ten and 12 years – for an amendment to the Wildlife Act. I hope to be in a position to publish the amending legislation, which is very lengthy, very shortly. There are some legal issues being worked out with the office of the Attorney General prior to publication. As soon as these issues are addressed the Bill will be published. I envisage the Bill will address a number of the issues already referred to by Deputies. The Deputy rightly talks about looking afresh at how we can deal with these issues and the bio-diversity plan can certainly be used as a new starting point to ensure threatened species are looked after. Not only can we identify but we can monitor and protect endangered species under the bio-diversity plan which, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, is well under way.
I also wish to refer to the recruitment of an additional 30 wildlife rangers which is currently under way. This will help protect and conserve the situation on the ground.
I did not get a reply. We have the worst record in Europe.
Is the Minister satisfied with the reporting procedures between local authorities and her Department in planning or licensing decisions which have the potential to interfere with wildlife habitats?
In such cases Dúchas would make its views known in the normal way with regard to planning applications. The Deputy can be assured that is done on an ongoing basis.