Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 April 2019
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which various species of native birds or animals are in danger of extinction; if recent audits have taken place with a view to identifying the way in which to arrest further decline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16955/19]
View answer214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the numbers of grouse, partridge or other game birds continue to be monitored to prevent extinction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16956/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together:
My Department is responsible for the implementation of the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011 (SI 477/2011) which transpose the EU Birds and Habitats Directives in the Irish context.
In line with our obligations under the Birds Directive, Ireland is due to submit its Article 12 Report, covering the period 2013 to 2018, to the European Commission later this year. This report will set out in detail the conservation status of a range of bird species (including game birds such as Red Grouse) as well as detailing the range of monitoring programmes that underpin such status assessments.
Work on this report is ongoing in my Department and its findings will be made available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (www.npws.ie) in due course.
My Department also from time to time publishes "Red Lists", a standardised approach for presentation of information on rare and threatened species, developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and widely used for this type of information. The most recent Red lists on npws.ie deal with moths, plants and the soft-boned fish, i.e. sharks, skates and rays.
Finally, the Atlas of mammals in Ireland, published by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in 2016, provides information on the status of mammals occurring in Ireland.
