Austin Currie
Ceist:44 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance the measures he intends to take to protect the corncrake in this Year of the Corncrake; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Protection of Corncrake.
The corncrake is a protected species, as are all wild birds, under the Wildlife Act, 1976. The EC Directive on the conservation of wildbirds (No. 409 of 1979) establishes a system of general protection for all wildbirds including the corncrake, throughout the member states of the European Community. This Directive is implemented in Ireland under the provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1976.
I am aware that the Irish Wildbird Conservancy have launched a campaign to raise some funds for the purchase of land important for this species in the Shannon Callows, one of the five key areas for corncrakes in the country and hope to get 50 per cent funding from the European Community. The Wildlife Service, Office of Public Works, have agreed to a request from the Irish Wildbird Conservency to assist in a nest finding exercise in the Moy Catchment, County Mayo which is an important habitat area for the species.