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Parliamentary Questions and Answers
Question 147 - Answered on 11th July, 2012
Maureen O'Sullivan, TD (Dublin Central, Independent):
To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider the use of the funding currently being used in trapping and killing of natural predator for fencing to protect nesting birds of the type used in County Mayo (details supplied) which is enjoying 100 per cent success in keeping natural predators out of a bird breeding site.
Written Answer. Ref No: 33880/12
Jimmy Deenihan (Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael):
My Department is aware of the success of the use of fencing to exclude predators, such as foxes, from the site in question in County Mayo, where a small number of waders are now breeding within the fenced-off area. The use of exclusion fencing rather than trapping is an option that my Department considers, where appropriate, but it is not always feasible. For example, fencing would not be considered a viable option to exclude avian predators, such as crows, which fly over fences, or wild mink, which swim up rivers and wet drains into sites.
In addition, fencing is a very expensive option compared to trapping and would not be economically viable in the large number of sites that my Department manages. My Department will, however, keep the option of using exclusion fencing under review and will continue to consider its use, where feasible.
SEE ALSO: Annagh Marsh Fox Fence Success!
