Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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255. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action the National Parks and Wildlife Service is taking to cease the ongoing practices of bait digging, shellfish collecting and crabbing on Bull Island in North Dublin, which result in the destruction of a protected European Union Annex 1 Habitat and the removal of invertebrates, which are an important food source for birds. [25486/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of EU nature and biodiversity policy. It is an EU-wide network of nature protection areas established under the 1992 Habitats Directive. The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. It is comprised of special areas of conservation (also referred to as sites of community importance in the EU context) designated by Member States under the Habitats Directive and special protection areas which are designated under the 1979 Birds Directive.

The establishment of this network of protected areas also fulfils a Community obligation under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Bull Island is contained within the North Dublin Bay special area of conservation. It is also the focal point of the North Bull Island special protection area, formally designated in 2010 by Statutory Instrument (S.I. 211 of 2010). It is also recognised as a UNESCO biosphere by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. This biosphere designation has now been extended to Dublin Bay.

In accordance with the provisions of this Statutory Instrument, harvesting marine species, unless regulated by another public body or unless for personal use, may only be undertaken on the site with my consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The site has been monitored by officials from my Department and I understand that bait digging is recognised as a management issue. However, I am advised there are significant operational challenges associated with the regulation and management of such activities that require careful consideration in the context of the overall ecological requirements of the site.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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256. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the National Parks and Wildlife Service division of her Department issued 493 licences to stop damage to flora and fauna by wild animals in 2013 for the capture and-or killing of protected animals and birds; the nature of the damage being caused; the species of animals and birds involved; the method of capture and killing employed; the reason non-lethal methods were not used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25491/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There is a facility, under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts, for a person to obtain a permit, outside the Open Seasons, from my Department to take action in certain situations where serious damage is being caused by protected animals and wild birds. Such action might include the scaring, capture or killing of species. Applications for permits are considered by officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, on a case by case basis.

In 2013, some 493 permits were granted under section 42, the vast majority of which, some 443 permits or 90%, were issued to control deer. 35 permits were issued to control bird species, such as feral pigeons, rooks and jackdaws, some of them in indoor structures such as food storage areas.A small number of permits were granted to control other animals.

In 2014, there was a reduction in the number of section 42 permits issued from 493 to 355.