Animal Culls

Thursday, 11 July 2024

Ceisteanna (252)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

252. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the OPW’s long-recurring culling programme for the grey squirrel populations in the National Botanic Gardens and other sites (details supplied), if he will he arrange for his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service to list the complete criteria applied when adding species to the Third Schedule, under which a wildlife species may be classed as a pest species. [30537/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which deal with invasive alien species.

The Grey Squirrel is already included on Part 2 of the Third Schedule to the 2011 Regulations. It is classed as an invasive alien species of national concern and subject to the restrictions set out in Regulation 49 of the 2011 Regulations.

For convenience, the Schedule can be accessed via the following link:

invasives.ie/app/uploads/2021/10/S.I.477-ThirdSchedule_SppLists_FromSource.pdf