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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Irish Seal Sanctuary.

Austin Currie

Question:

628 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will ensure the continuation of public funding for the Irish Seal Sanctuary to allow its work to continue on the Fingal County Council site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26074/01]

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 Fingal County Council site 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 would not arise.

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