Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact of the extensive damage and destruction of native wildlife carried out by mink; if this species is considered as vermin here; his plans to eradicate mink including consideration of a bounty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2918/11]

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 the potential population of wild mink in the State as 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. Last year, some €73,000 was spent on this work. I have no proposals to introduce a bounty. As wild mink are not protected under the Wildlife Acts they can be controlled by landowners and their agents.