Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
772. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans in regard to health and safety management and control of the urban gull population, in particular in north County Dublin. [32231/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra773. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to implement health and safety management and control measures to control the urban seagull population in particular in north County Dublin through the non-harm measure of nest and egg removal on a multi-year basis as is carried out in jurisdictions that implement health and safety measures to control urban seagull populations. [32232/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra774. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the final report from the review into the urban gull population and health and safety management and control measures will be published. [32233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra775. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to wait until May 2019 before a revised or new policy for the health and safety management and control of urban gull populations is implemented. [32234/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 772 to 775, inclusive, together.
The EU Birds Directive allows Member States to make derogations from its protective measures in respect of certain wild bird species in certain circumstances – for example, where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or to air safety. The Declarations to implement these derogations are renewed annually and an annual review of the Declarations is undertaken prior to their expiry.
Last year’s review took into account the issue of seagulls in the North Dublin area especially in Balbriggan which had been the subject of correspondence to my Department from some community groups and other residents which proposed the inclusion of seagull species in the Declaration.
Following consideration of the matter, last year's Declaration, which was effective from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2018, included methods to control seagull species in the Balbriggan area for public safety reasons. The control method involved the removal of eggs and nests only and the culling of seagulls was not permitted. Similar provision has now been made in this year's Declaration, effective until 30 April 2019.
Future policy in this matter will be informed by the review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive. For further information on this review I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos 976, 977,978, 979, 980, 981 and 982 of 10 July last.
