National Parks and Wildlife Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Questions (328)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

328. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention and the attention of the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been drawn to the fact that a policy (details supplied) addresses the serious public health and safety risks posed by high density gull colonies in communities; his views on whether the conclusions and actions set out in the policy should apply in Dublin specifically across north County Dublin in Balbriggan, Skerries, and Howth given the results of the National Survey of Urban Gulls September 2021 by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if not, his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service policy on urban gulls in the interests of public health and safety; if he will provide the evidence and expert advices that he is relying on to support his position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9039/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

As previously advised, the management and control of protected wild birds in Ireland is carried out under the Wildlife Acts 1976 through the licencing system that is available e.g. Section 42 and Section 22(9)(d) of the Wildlife Acts. In addition the State-wide Wild Bird Declaration also allows for the control of certain protected wild birds by removal of the nest or eggs of those species in a particular area of North Dublin without going through the licence application process. The results of the National Gulls Survey 2021 will inform the new iteration of the Wild Birds Declaration.

As outlined previously, my officials have engaged with a number of bodies in order to move the recommendations of the first interim report of the Consultative Committee on urban gulls forward. My Department is awaiting a response to these communications. My Department is aware of a number of policies developed in other countries to address a range of bird related issues.