Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 April 2019
229. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Dublin City Council applied to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for wildlife licences permitting control measures on public health and safety grounds for the scaring of seagull flocks from treated water reservoirs at Stillorgan and Ballyboden; if licences were availed of; and if she will provide information (details supplied) regarding same. [17198/19]
View answerThere are provisions under the Wildlife Acts allowing for the control of bird species in certain circumstances. There is a facility under Section 42 of the Wildlife Acts whereby organisations and individuals may apply to my Department for permits, on a case by case basis, to prevent serious damage caused by individual protected animals and birds on specific lands. Permissions are only issued where there is evidence of such damage.
Dublin City Council were granted eight Section 42 permits since 2014 to control seagulls at the Stillorgan reservoir and the Ballyboden water treatment plant due to health and safety concerns; three permits were issued for the Ballyboden water treatment plant and five permits were issued for the Stillorgan reservoir The control method involved in all cases was the use of falcons to scare seagulls and the culling of seagulls was not permitted.
I am arranging that the Deputy is provided with all the documentation relating to these permits.
