Vol. 547 No. 1
406 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reviewing the application by the Irish Seal Sanctuary for capital funding towards the development of a coastal site in north Dublin in view of the somewhat better than expected post-budget outturn. [1608/02]
I am aware that submissions for grant aid have been made by the Irish Seal Sanctuary on a number of occasions, but my Department does not provide funding directly for such organisations. While the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has primary responsibility for dealing with wildlife, I understand that it sees its responsibility as conservation of wildlife. I am informed that as the work of the Irish Seal Sanctuary does not impact significantly on overall seal numbers and is primarily of a welfare nature, involving the rehabilitation of individual seals, it does not come within that remit and in the circumstances it is not possible to allocate funding to the Irish Seal Sanctuary.
