Corncrake numbers have suffered such a dramatic decline that they are now threatened worldwide with extinction. The corncrake is Ireland's only globally threatened bird species. Since the turn of the century, corncrake numbers have been falling continuously. In 1978 the numbers recorded in a national census had fallen to just over 900; the most recent full national census was in 1993 and found that only 174 singing male corncrakes were recorded in Ireland. Most of them were restricted to four areas — the Shannon Callows in County Offaly, north County Donegal, County Mayo and County Fermanagh. A further census was undertaken in 1994, mainly restricted to these four areas, which found that numbers had hit an all time low of 129 male corncrakes. In 1994, for the first time, no corncrakes were recorded in Northern Ireland during the census period.
In 1992, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds decided to pay grants to farmers for corncrake friendly practises. The scheme is open to all farmers with a calling corncrake on their lands for at least one week. The grant payable was £80 per hectare in the Shannon Callows and £120 per hectare in north County Donegal and County Mayo. There was also a further grant of £20 per hectare payable when mowing from the centre of the field outwards was undertaken.
This grants scheme has proved to be an outstanding success. In 1995, for the first time since recording began, an increase in corncrake numbers in Ireland was recorded. The number of singing male corncrakes was increased to 174. Given the success of the scheme, appropriate management and sufficient support, we can be optimistic about not alone the survival of the corncrake but a real increase in their numbers in the future.
However, I raise this matter here today because there appears to be a problem over who is to continue to manage the corncrake grants scheme. This year the National Parks and Wildlife Services, which was formerly under the control of the Office of Public Works but is now under the control of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, contributed £65,000 to the scheme. There is a proposal that the scheme will now come under the REP scheme, under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. However, the uptake of the REP scheme in the specific areas to which I referred is only approximately 5 per cent. If the scheme is to be included under REPS it would have to be dealt with under a separate budget. Such a proposal must be in place before any change in the existing arrangements takes place.
It is my opinion, and the opinion of those involved in wildlife preservation, that it is essential for this funding to continue. Any break in the continuity of the scheme could lead to corncrake numbers being depleted to such a level that the species could be wiped out. I appreciate that the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Higgins, the Minister of State and all those attached to his Department are anxious to ensure that the corncrake survives and it is essential that we all work together to ensure this.
