Vol. 540 No. 2
225 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if there have been sightings of the nightjar in the Dungarvan harbour area, County Waterford in 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20323/01]
I am advised, after consultation with Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, and Birdwatch Ireland, that there have been no positive sightings of nightjars in the Dungarvan Harbour area of County Waterford in 2001.
In previous years there was an unconfirmed report received by Birdwatch Ireland of a sighting of a pair of nightjars in the Dungarvan area. Nightjars are summer visitors from Africa and occur mainly in dry upland heathland. They have been sighted in the south-east of Ireland, in counties Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary and also in Cork.
