Vol. 408 No. 9
66 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether, in view of the fact that the corncrake is declining at an alarming rate in Ireland he will mark National Corncrake Day on 25 May by introducing measures to protect the corncrake, including incentives to farmers to delay mowing and to adopt corncrake-friendly mowing techniques; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I said in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 26 October 1989, the matter of aid for the protection of a particular species of wildlife is primarily for the Office of Public Works which is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance.
In so far as my Department are concerned I have recently designated two areas as environmentally sensitive, one in the Slieve Blooms, Counties Laois-Offaly and the other at Slyne Head, County Galway. This should go some way towards protection of the corncrake in those areas.
