Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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484. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he will take to address the serious threat to wildlife at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will consider introducing a bounty to hunters to alleviate this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27232/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Wild mink are not protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and they can be controlled by farmers, landowners and others.

A study commissioned by my Department, and published in 2009, estimated the population of wild mink in the State could reach a total of between 20,500 and 33,500 individuals, and identified ground-nesting birds as the species most vulnerable to mink predation. In this regard, 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. My Department undertook predator control programmes on land it owns or manages in recent years. €92,000 was spent in 2011 with a further €135,000 spent in 2012. Expenditure in 2013 is likely to be in the region of the 2012 figure. However, this covers many predatory species as well as the mink, including also grey crow, magpie and fox.

I also provided €20,000 to the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) to stimulate increased control of mink by game shooting clubs. I consider that this offers a useful addition to the measures already being taken by my Department. While feral mink are found in most parts of the country, I requested that, as far as possible, special attention should be given to the counties of Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Kerry, where my Department has also concentrated its efforts. The scheme is operated by the NARGC, with a verification process agreed with my Department.

In relation to Kerry in particular, my Department is aware that local gun clubs and landowners are working to address the wild mink situation in the areas identified by the Deputy. My Department has also provided mink traps to local groups to Kerry to assist them in their work and it will continue to target trapping in priority areas within the resources available to it.