Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the system in place for funding and carrying out post mortems on whales and dolphins in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31386/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A network of National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Rangers operating in coastal areas participates in a scheme to identify and respond to strandings of live and dead whales and dolphins. The scheme is co-ordinated by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, which is funded by my Department, the Marine Institute, the Heritage Council and the Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service. Professional and volunteer members from universities (particularly UCC) and the public are also involved.

In most instances an effort is made by this network, with the co-operation of local authority and State resources, to aid live-stranded cetaceans to return to the sea. There are many instances every year where whales and dolphins are successfully returned. However, occasionally these animals, whether injured or diseased or for some other natural reason, will re-strand themselves on the shore and die.

Dead whales and dolphins washed up on the shore are also reported under these arrangements. In these instances a member of the network will make an inspection on site to record the species, size, gender and probable cause of death. This data is maintained in a public access database www.iwdg.ie and published annually in the Irish Naturalists Journal.