Written Answers Nos. 307-312
307. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when eligibility thresholds for Rebuilding Ireland home loans are likely to be raised in view of the fact that at the present level it is not possible for applicants to purchase a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46417/18]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is targeted at first-time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first-time buyers only.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the thresholds for which the maximum market value for properties being purchased under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan must not be exceeded. These vary depending on the county in which the property is located, with a maximum purchase price of €320,000 applicable for properties in counties Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and a maximum purchase price of €250,000 for the rest of the country.
The property price limits for eligible properties are in place for a number of reasons, including the need to target limited resources most effectively. As one of the main policy aims of the scheme is to enable low-income individuals to access the finance necessary to purchase their own home, there are also restrictions on the maximum level of income that applicants can have. Given the need to prevent potential applicants from borrowing more funds than would be financially sustainable for them to do so, the property price limits are linked to these income limits, as increasing the maximum amount that applicants could borrow under the scheme could have negative consequences for the long-term financial position of both the borrower and the Exchequer. As such, and also considering that the scheme is less than a year old, I have no plans to raise these limits.
308. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has given consideration to the introduction of a humanely directed deer cull in view of circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46260/18]
View answerWild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. There is an annual Open Season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The current hunting season or open season for deer operates generally from 1 September to the last day of February, depending on the species and gender of deer.
My Department carries out localised annual deer counts on State lands such as National Parks and I am aware that deer species are increasing in range and numbers. Where appropriate, and depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats, especially woodland, culls may be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences.
Control of deer on private property is the responsibility of landowners who may apply to my Department for a permission under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts to cull deer where this is necessary outside the annual open seasons. My Department does not have powers to carry out any such culls. These permissions offer a facility whereby a person can obtain a permit, on a case by case basis, to prevent serious damage caused by individual deer on specific lands. Permissions are only issued where there is evidence of such damage.
309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the species of birds, including game birds and animals, including hares, extinct or deemed to be under threat of extinction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46365/18]
View answerI would refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 218 of 11 October 2018 which provided information on birds considered extinct or under threat.
My Department, in conjunction with other bodies and experts, reviews the current knowledge on the status of species in reports called “Red Lists”. These are drawn up to internationally agreed standards, and are compiled for species groups, for example for mammals, sharks and rays, moths, bumble bees etc. The Red Lists for Ireland are available on https://www.npws.ie/publications .
Some 31,000 species of animals and plants have been recorded in Ireland, of which the vast majority are insects and other invertebrate species.
To date 3,237 species have been assessed, of which 83 species (2.5%) are considered to have become regionally extinct (i.e. no longer present in Ireland, although still occurring in other countries) and 468 species (14.5%) were classified as threatened.
The most recent Red List of Irish mammals was published in 2009. In that report, the Irish hare Lepus timidus was assessed as “least concern”. The Department is planning to update the mammal Red List in 2019 and the results of the ongoing national hare survey will be taken into consideration for that assessment.
310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the hare population has been reduced; the cause of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46407/18]
View answerThe Irish hare Lepus timidus is considered to be widespread and numerous in Ireland. The national population is known to fluctuate between years depending on annual breeding success.
A national hare survey, funded by my Department, is underway across Ireland at present. The survey is using hundreds of cameras deployed across all habitat types and in every county of Ireland. Image analysis from this survey is ongoing. The results are due in mid-2019 and will provide a first national population assessment since 2007.
311. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to warn the public of the risks of Lyme disease in national parks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46199/18]
View answerThe issue of Lyme disease is not confined to the National Parks. Ticks are widespread in the country and areas of rough vegetation and forestry and are not at all confined to National Parks, Nature Reserves or state lands. Ticks can be found on a variety of domesticated and wild animals including sheep, goats, horses, cattle, dogs, deer, rodents and various wild mammal species.
Information on Lyme Disease is available from the HSE and, their booklet:
http://www.hpsc.ie/a-/vectorborne/lymedisease/informationforthepublic/Lyme%20DL%20April2017%20-%20D2.pdf contains useful information in this regard.
For members of the public who intend on visiting National Parks, information on ticks is contained in the health and safety section of the park website. For example, with regard to Killarney National Park, information is available on the dedicated Park website at
http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/visit/health-safety and is also available in the visitor centre at Killarney House.
The issue of warning notices is a matter for the HSE/Local authorities to consider. Any such signs would need to be countywide as opposed to specifically located in particular National Parks or Nature Reserves. This is not an issue which is localised to National Parks or state lands. It is an issue throughout the countryside.
The National Parks & Wildlife Service of my Department is willing to engage with the Local Authorities on any county-wide initiatives they (or the HSE) wish to propose.
312. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46298/18]
View answerMy Department is responsible for implementing the EC Zoos Directive (Directive 1999/22/EC) which requires EU Member States to regulate zoos in accordance with its provisions. The Directive is transposed into national legislation in Ireland by Statutory Instrument No. 440 of 2003, the European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003. My Department has a statutory role to ensure all premises identified as zoos in Ireland are inspected and licensed, if appropriate, each year.
The Irish Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (ISMZP), published by my Department in 2016, provide clarity to zoos on what is expected of them in order to be in compliance with the legislation. Any premises that exhibits to the public animals of wild species for more than 7 days a year is classed as a zoo for the purpose of the legislation.
The facility in question was licensed although the Department’s inspection team had noted a number of significant improvements needed to comply with the legal requirements arising from the EU Directive. The inspectors provided the owners with positively-framed advice on how to achieve compliance. An inspection was scheduled in June 2018. However, the owners contacted my Department on the 29th May, stating that they would no longer open to the public and requesting that the inspection be cancelled. Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service were in contact at the time with the owners on this matter.
I would stress that my Department does not necessarily expect that all establishments will meet all the required standards on the first inspection. The zoo inspectorate works closely with the owners on an achievable and agreed plan to bring them up to the standard required and ensure the best possible conditions for animal populations and also to ensure that wider biodiversity and conservation objectives are realised.
In recent years, my Department has identified an increased number of pet farms and private collections who choose to exhibit animals of wild species to the public on a commercial basis. My Department plays an important role in monitoring such premises and setting policy and guidelines that help raise standards across the sector, essential for the welfare of the animal populations in the zoos and in ensuring that health and safety standards are maintained for all staff and visitors.
