Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1428: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proposals by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to cull the mink population in view of the damage being caused to the appropriate balance of our national habitat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32467/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Mink found in the wild in Ireland are descended from animals that escaped from fur farms. They have been breeding in the countryside since the 1950s and are now found throughout much of the country.

A report published by my Department in 2009 estimated that the potential population of wild mink in the State was between 20,500 and 33,500 individuals. The report identified ground nesting birds as the species most vulnerable to mink predation. Accordingly, my Department is concentrating its resources on protecting the nesting sites of rare and threatened bird species including red-throated diver, corncrake, grey partridge, waders and terns from a range of predators including mink. Experience has shown that targeted control of predators at specific times can have a significant benefit to the breeding success of these species. This year some €50,000 will be spent on this work.

As wild mink are not protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000 they can be controlled by landowners and their agents.