Vol. 398 No. 6
25 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to extend to Dublin city and county the services of full-time wildlife rangers for which there is a growing need as there are four nature reserves (1) Bull Island (2) Rockabill Island (3) Rogerstown Estuary and (4) Balydoyle Estuary at present without the protection of rangers.
I have no immediate plans for the appointment of additional wildlife rangers for the areas in question but as I have already said in reply to another question I am having the situation examined. Every effort is being made to apply the management and protective provisions of the Wildlife Act within the existing staffing resources available to the Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works.
I have never before received as many negative responses as I have received from the Minister today. It appears he is implying he will leave Bull Island, Rockabill Island, Rogerstown Estuary and Baldoyle Estuary without the services and protection of wildlife rangers. Does the Minister not feel ashamed that this would be the situation, given that our capital city comprises of such large numbers of people and that one of the tasks performed by wildlife rangers would be of educational service to schools? Would the Minister not agree that there is a need for this service in our schools, particularly in urban areas and in the capital? Will he give me a commitment that he will revise his position of saying "no, no, no" to the employment of further wildlife rangers in the city?
I did not use the word "no" at all this afternoon, I said I was having the matter examined in the light of the situation I find myself in in recent times where we have 45 wildlife rangers to provide a service in the whole country. That is the total staff of the wildlife rangers and their work includes, as the Deputy rightly knows, enforcement of the protective provisions in the Wildlife Acts, an advisory and educational service, and participation in wildlife research survey work. Indeed there is quite a great deal of research work ongoing on various species in various sites. There is a huge interest in wildlife in the Dublin area and it is a priority area that warrants some immediate attention. I think the Deputy will also be aware that there is a great deal of voluntary effort in this area.
I appreciate that.
I avail of this opportunity to acknowledge the very valuable advice, support and service we get from the voluntary bodies who have a very keen interest in the area, the Game Council, the Irish Wild Bird Conservancy and many others.
We could have used the wildlife rangers to round up the Senators.
I think we could do without smart Alec remarks at this stage in the afternoon. The work of wildlife rangers is very important. We are concerned about it and we would like to work with Deputy Byrne and others who have a keen interest in it to improve the situation.
There is a total overreliance on voluntary agencies. However I congratulate those voluntary bodies because if they were not doing the work which the State is supposed to be doing our wildlife would never be under more threat than at present. Finally, the Minister must be aware that by not providing the service Dublin city and county, its mountains and coastline are totally unprotected.
Has Deputy Garland a final question?
Would the Minister agree that if he is not in a position to provide full-time permanent staff in this area, the very least he could do would be to investigate the possibility of a social employment scheme?
That is precisely what I said earlier in reply to a previous question. I said that I was having this examined in detail to see how we can improve the situation from our side of the fence but also to avail of the services of other statutory bodies and agencies, and indeed the Garda and others.
However I must point out that there is reckless damage being done, that there is poaching and that people must face up to their responsibilities in this area.
I thank the Ministers and the Deputies for their co-operation in the matter of what has been a sensible Question Time.
