Austin Deasy
Ceist:20 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the action, if any, he is taking to protect wildlife habitats which are being destroyed on a daily basis.
Written Answers. - Protection of Wildlife Habitats.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Act, 1976, which provides a wide measure of protection for wildlife and its habitats. A number of protection mechanisms of varying strength are available and are used widely in nature reserves, refuges for fauna, wildfowl sanctuaries and areas of scientific interest.
A total of 71 nature reserves, 7 refuges for fauna, 68 wildfowl sanctuaries, and 5 national parks are administered by the Service and provide protection for a wide variety of wildlife habitats. The areas under protection is increasing annually and the Government has made a further £250,000 available in 1992 for peatland acquisition.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service also implement the "Birds Directive" and "Habitats Directive" as well as various conventions and international agreements to ensure that we protect sites of international importance.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service maintains close links with a wide variety of public and private organisations with a view to advancing conservation measures. It also carries out an important role in furthering public awareness of the importance of our wildlife heritage.
The Agri-environmental measures of the Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals should contribute significantly to the protection of endangered wildlife habitats.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service have also identified Areas of Scientific Interest which are worthy of conservation in which local authorities and grant-aiding bodies are asked to look very carefully at proposals which might damage the environment. In these areas, I do not have power to prevent such proposals. An amendment to the Wildlife Act is being prepared which will improve the measure of protection available.