Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response but I put it to him that while this report was presented to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in July, it is now November and we are still waiting for a decision and a view from the Department. That is not acceptable.

Is the Minister of State aware that the NPWS is facing potential legal action and fines from the European Commission because of its failure to protect the corncrake? This bird is now extinct in the Shannon Callows because of the lack of action in regard to de-silting of the Shannon between Banaher and Meelick. All of the stakeholders except the NPWS have agreed that work needs to be done on that section of the river, and although the NPWS is responsible for protecting wading birds, including the corncrake, in the Shannon Callows, it is the one organisation that has impeded this work. Would the Minister of State not agree that the NPWS must review its policy in light of the impact it is having on the corncrake in that area, and also because its failure to carry out work on that section of the river is forcing the River Suck to travel north rather than south, thereby compounding the problem and the extent of flooding in the callows?

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