the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the action, if any, she is taking on foot of the recent report by the Heritage Council indicating a stark decline in the population of some of Ireland's rarest birds, such as the grey partridge and turtle dove, the virtual extinction of the corn bunting and an alarming drop in the number of previously common birds such as yellowhammers and linnets. [6428/00]
Other Questions. - Bird Population Decline.
9.
Birds of agricultural areas such as grey partridge, turtle dove, corn bunting, yellowhammer and linnets have, as a group, been affected more since Ireland's accession to the EU than other groups and, as the recent report by the Heritage Council highlights, many species have suffered serious contractions in their breeding range. Dúchas have been partners in and co-funders of the countryside bird survey since its inception in 1998. This is a nationwide annual monitoring programme which quantifies population changes of common Irish birds and will be a valuable database for assessing the impact of agricultural changes on farmland birds in the future.
The protection afforded by the designation of special protection areas and special areas of conservation will contribute to the maintenance of suitable habitats for wild birds including the birds in question. This, together with the environmental benefits from improved practices under the rural environment protection scheme operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, will represent a significant benefit for the protection of all our wildlife, including birds such as the corn bunting, yellowhammer, linnet, grey partridge and turtle doves.
My Department has also supported specific conservation initiatives on two endangered species of farmland birds, the grey partridge and the corncrake.
The grey partridge project, part-funded by Dúchas since 1991, is a programme of survey, research and management of remaining wild populations. The REP scheme and the corncrake grant scheme, funded by Dúchas since 1993 in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, encourages farmers with nesting corncrakes to farm in a corncrake friendly manner.
The Minister is not doing a proper job to protect our wildlife heritage. Has she any strategy to stop the extinction of a number of bird species? It is apparent that a number of species have been eliminated in the past 20 or 30 years. Is there personnel in the Department who can design a strategy to protect our wildlife? This report is indicting. I am sure a number of species have become extinct which are not mentioned in the report.
I thank the Deputy for his questions. I am aware of his interest in this area. The Heritage Council has sent me the report. We need to see what can be done to protect our birdlife not just on foot of the report but also the other information Dúchas has at its disposal. It is important to have rangers, particularly in the SPA regions. The directive refers directly to birds. The more personnel we have the greater our monitoring. Dúchas has part-funded schemes, particularly the grey partridge project. The fact we have SPAs, SACs and MHAs means that certain protection will be given to our birdlife. The REP scheme and farm practices will be a positive influence on our bird population.
As regards the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, I took the opportunity in reference to the importance of hedgerows—
The Minister's time is up.
I see no positive moves to conserve wildlife. Every day of the week I see areas of wetland being drained and hedgerows being removed. For all the good intentions of the REP scheme, it is not serving the purpose for which it was set up, namely, to protect our habitats and wildlife in general. I ask the Minister to do something about that. It is ridiculous that there is only one wildlife ranger in County Waterford. We need 12 or 20 rangers given that there are two mountain ranges and lots of moors in the county. The Minister must get more money because we need more personnel. She has not tackled the Minister for Finance in this regard.
I accept that we need more personnel. However, the Deputy must acknowledge that since July 1999 the number of conservation officers has increased from 60 to 90. That was only done through the good offices of the Minister for Finance who believed the arguments we put forward. We will continue to advance such arguments because 90 conservation officers are not sufficient. We are trying to improve that number in every way we can. I do not accept that the two directives, the SPAs and the SACs cannot be of immediate benefit to habitats generally and to birdlife in particular. As regards the hedgerows, we have written to the local authorities.
Deputy Donal Carey led a successful delegation to the United States to study its wildlife and parks. It strongly believes in the concept of volunteerism. Is there a strategy involving local authorities and schools which would be beneficial in relation to sightings etc?
This issue was raised some time ago by Deputy O'Shea during discussions on another question. As regards looking after our monuments and conservation sites, we need the input of local authorities and local groups who have a particular interest in this area.