Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
283. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23849/22]
View answerMy Department provides support via grants to the National Beekeeping Association to assist bee keeping associations with the conservation of the native Irish honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera). In addition, the Investment Aid Scheme for the development of the commercial Horticulture Sector provides a mechanism for individual beekeepers to avail of funding to help them purchase tangible assets for their beekeeping enterprise.
Under the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) farmers can undertake to install bat boxes, bird boxes and create bee habitats for the conservation of solitary bees by the placement of sand in fenced off mounds.
In relation to the farms managed and operated by my Department, a number of measures have been implemented that are bird, bat and bee and biodiversity friendly in line with best practice and initiatives such as the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
