Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps being taken to protect corncrakes and skylarks on the island of Inishturbot, County Galway, from the predation of rats in view of the fact these are rare and protected species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30535/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Corncrake is a species listed for special protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. No Corncrake have been recorded on Inishturbot in the years 2018 to 2020, but the island habitat is suitable for Corncrake and other ground nesting birds, such as Skylark.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department recently secured EU LIFE funding for a five year project, LIFE Atlantic Crex, which focuses on improving the conservation status of Corncrake in Ireland. The project will work with a range of local stakeholders across the Corncrake SPA network and will undertake predation risk management at all of the project sites. Inishturbot in Co. Galway is a target area for habitat enhancement for Corncrake as part of the project. Predation risk management would include an investigation of any rat populations which may pose a threat to ground nesting birds- in particular Corncrake.