Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked about the ecological status of the site. The site is listed for the following bird species: fulmar, barnacle goose and Arctic tern. Some 358 fulmar pairs are estimated to breed on this site, which is approximately 1% of the total Irish population. Another protected species, the barnacle goose, frequents this site in winter but, due to its remoteness, a precise and accurate estimate of site use is not available. Bird survey and monitoring work is undertaken there by UCC and is part-funded by my Department. The surveys led to population estimates for two additional species, the Manx shearwater and storm petrel, that are much higher than previous estimates and indicate that the place is of significant conservation value for these species. Therefore, the designation may have to be amended to reflect this new information.

Though not in State ownership, the site currently enjoys very low levels of human or farming disturbance, which benefits the birds. It can be difficult to secure optimal grazing levels on offshore islands but, in this case, the access difficulties may well prevent that problem.

The Department would be a statutory consultee on any planning proposal and should, therefore, have substantial influence over any proposal to build there.

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