Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 1

Written Answers. - Irish Seal Sanctuary.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

422 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason he has refused to meet the Irish Seal Sanctuary, An Clochán, Tobergregan, Garristown, County Dublin; and the reason he decided not to fund them without meeting them and listening to their submission. [21177/02]

Mary Upton

Ceist:

439 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will meet representatives of the Irish Seal Sanctuary as they have requested; if he will provide additional resources to this organisation for the important work it provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21656/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 439 together.

Officials of my Department have recently met with representatives of the Irish Seal Sanctuary in relation to this matter. I have previously acknowledged the excellent work which has been done by the Irish Seal Sanctuary over the years in rehabilitating small numbers of seals. However, given the limited resources available to my Department for wildlife conservation and protection, grant assistance in this area must realistically be targeted at projects which will maximise conservation prospects. Given the abundant population of seals in Irish waters and that their species is not endangered in conservation terms, I regret that funding of the Irish Seal Sanctuary facility by my Department cannot be justified at this time.