Wildlife Regulations

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Questions (991, 992, 993, 994)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

991. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No’s 148,149,150,151,152 of 16 July 2025, if he will provide this Deputy with a complete copy of the Department/NPWS’s correspondence concerning gulls and public health and safety with the HSE in 2017 as cited in his reply; if he will also provide copies of any consistent/similar correspondence that his Department/NPWS has had with the HSE in respect of wild bird species subject to lethal control nationally under the general derogation for the past forty-plus years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18320/26]

View answer

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

992. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No’s 148,149,150,151,152 of 16 July 2025, and his statement in his reply that he is satisfied that the NPWS carries out their functions in a balanced and measured manner in line with the legislative provisions for the protection of wild birds, if he will confirm that he is also satisfied that, since the withdrawal of the proactive, protective derogation (that ran from 2017-2023), schools that have nesting seagull colonies on their roofs must apply to his Department/NPWS for licences to protect schoolchildren from attack and injury by seagulls, a policy reversal with multiple negative consequences for schools and the children in their care; his views on whether this derogation should be re-instated with immediate effect, and prior to the 2026 seagull breeding season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18321/26]

View answer

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

993. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service has issued any public notices that it is perfectly legal under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000 (Amended) to remove nests from occupied buildings provided they do not contain eggs or hatched chicks; if no such public notice has been issued, and as the Oireachtas has legislated for this entitlement, will he direct his Department/NPWS to issue such a public notice in the interests of adherence to normal public service standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18322/26]

View answer

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

994. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a summary of all wildlife licences granted in the period 2019 to 2025 in respect of herring gulls and removal of their nests and eggs, such a summary to include the licence date, location, the reason for which licences were sought, the approved control actions; the specific legal grounds for the granting of the licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18323/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 991, 992, 993 and 994 together.

I refer to Dáil Question No. 1376 of the 13th January. The position remains the same.

Question No. 992 answered with Question No. 991.

Question No. 993 answered with Question No. 991.

Question No. 994 answered with Question No. 991.