Vol. 543 No. 2
620 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has had discussions regarding the proposal by the Irish Seal Sanctuary to develop a purpose-built refuge for stranded seals at Rodgerstown, Donabate, County Dublin; and the plans she has to provide financial support towards this project. [25929/01]
I met some time ago with representatives of the Irish Seal Sanctuary at their request to discuss their future plans for the sanctuary and officials from my Department later examined their draft development plan. The Irish Seal Sanctuary has made many approaches in the past for aid in running its existing facility at Garristown but the fact remains that the proposed new Rodgerstown sanctuary is a rehabilitation facility, which would cater for a relatively small number of injured seals rather than contributing to the overall conservation of the species. I have made it clear on previous occasions that my responsibility under the Wildlife Acts is to protect seals and other mammals to ensure the conservation of the species as a whole. The work carried out by the seal sanctuary is primarily welfare in character and, on this basis, the provision of funding from my Department does not arise.
