Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
893. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the extinction of Irish hares from North Bull Island in Dublin City; her further views on action to restore and preserve Irish hares on the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14558/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra894. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures to be taken to protect wildlife on North Bull Island, in view of reports that there have been no hares sighted there since June 2014; her plans to re-introduce hares to the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14682/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 893 and 894 together.
The Irish Hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is found throughout the country. It is classified as a “protected species” under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012, as well as being listed in Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC).
Under Article 17 of the Directive, Member States are obliged to report to the European Commission on the status of listed habitats and species every six years. Each species is assessed according to its range across Ireland, the population, the quality of its habitat and its future prospects. The Irish Hare was given a favourable conservation status in the Report entitled “The Status of European Union Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland”, which was submitted to the Commission in 2013. A copy of the report is available on the website of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service at www.npws.ie.
The Bull Island is monitored regularly by officers of my Department, but, despite these efforts and those of local landowners, the hare population has remained at very low levels for the past 20 years. While it is a matter for the landowners on the island to consider if they wish to translocate hares there, such a proposal would require a license from my Department under the Wildlife Acts. In that regard, it would be important that conditions on the island would be suitable for a reintroduction programme.
