Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2010
421 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of grant aid that has been drawn down for the husbandry of tadpoles and frogs; the amount of grant aid that has been drawn down for the counting of frogs in special areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22938/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe common frog (Rana temporaria) is listed on Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive. Accordingly, Ireland is obliged to report on its conservation status at regular intervals to the European Commission. My Department’s last report to the European Commission in 2008 indicated that the frog was not in a favourable state of conservation. Particular concern was expressed at the level of wetland habitat loss across the country.
In order to fulfil Ireland's obligations under the Habitats Directive, my Department awarded a contract, following a tender process, in March 2010 to a joint team from Queens University Belfast and the UK's Amphibian Conservation Trust to undertake a National Frog Survey. The field work will be coordinated by a team of ecologists from Co. Mayo. The contract is for a twenty one month period and will cost €70,000. No payment has been made to date to the contractors.
The survey will sample habitats and landscapes throughout the country. As well as providing an up-to-date map of frog distribution in Ireland it will also examine the aquatic and terrestrial habitats used by frogs and gather information on the threats facing these habitats. It will therefore gather useful environmental data as well as a population baseline which can be used to examine long term environmental trends.
