Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
236. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding he secured under Budget 2024 for the culling of mink through the NPWS; when he intends to commence this cull; what bounty he intends to set for mink tails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49113/23]
View answerMy Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of a suite of National and EU legislation in relation to invasive alien species in Ireland. Funding was provided by NPWS in 2012 for a scheme administered by the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) for a bounty on mink as part of a wider effort to protect ground nesting birds in western counties. I understand that this scheme ran for three years until 2015. That scheme is no longer in operation. There are no plans at present in my Department for a nationwide cull of American mink and no funds have been secured under budget 2024 in this regard.
There are a range of ongoing efforts by NPWS to control American mink in the country. These are primarily being managed by NPWS regional staff, on State-owned lands such as National Parks, and under a number of LIFE projects, (for example for Curlew and for Corncrake). These efforts are focused on the protection of rare ground nesting birds and Nest Protection Officers are in place across the country to control and remove mink where they catch them.
