Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2016
262. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her Department holds and operates the licensing function for control measures that can be carried out on bird species under national wildlife legislation and under the EU birds directive. [32732/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra266. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 27 September 2016, if a typical single case application for a bird control derogation licence usually necessitates a site visit, an inspection and a report by a conservation ranger, followed by an adjudication in her Department with reference to the legislation, and concluded with a written decision from her Department being sent back to the applicant; if each such application can take several weeks to fully process; and if her Department has one conservation ranger serving all of north Dublin to service the inspection and reporting requirements of each application. [32736/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 27 September 2016, if her Department, along with the Department of Health and other public health bodies, has the resources to process a very high volume of applications on a case-by-case basis in a timely fashion (details supplied). [32737/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 266 and 267 together.
As indicated by my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 27 September 2016, applicants may apply to my Department for derogation licences to control certain bird species, which are considered on a case by case basis. Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department would assess each such application, which would include an examination of the proposed control measures and a site visit to the area concerned, followed by a written recommendation on the application.
While my Department endeavours to examine all applications for licences and permits under the Wildlife Acts in a timely manner, there are instances where delays can occur due to the volume of applications for certain licences. However, my Department works to ensure that any such delays are kept to a minimum.
