Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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751. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if matters (details supplied) in relation to the control of wood pigeon will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19541/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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762. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department consulted with tillage farmers regarding the National Parks and Wildlife Service suggestion that open season on wood pigeons be removed. [19687/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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763. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the National Parks and Wildlife Service suggestion to end the open season on wood pigeon shooting; the studies the Service has undertaken on the issue of crop damage by wood pigeons; and the number of farmers were involved in these studies. [19688/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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764. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether wood pigeons are not a threat to tillage and horticulture crops; if a provision in legislation will be made for same as a game bird (details supplied); and if he will ensure responsible hunting will not be impeded by his Department as with other game species. [19689/21]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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807. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend in full the current declarations made under section 3 of the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (SI No. 254 of 1986) allowing for the control of certain wild bird species which is due to expire on 30 April 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20457/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 751, 762, 763, 764 and 807 together.

The current declaration made under section 3 of the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (SI No. 254 of 1986) allowing for the control of certain wild bird species is due to expire on 30 April 2021. A decision on a new declaration covering the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 will be made very shortly. My Department held a public consultation to inform this process and all views submitted will be taken into account.

The original declaration made in April last year excluded wood pigeon during the summer months on the basis of scientific advice received at the time. However on review, the declaration was amended in May last year to allow for the control of wood pigeon by lethal methods during the summer months of June, July and August. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department had planned to carry out a scientific review of the issue of pigeon damage to crops during the summer months with a view to informing decisions for the forthcoming declaration but it was not possible to progress this last year due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19.

I should point out that the Open Season for hunting is a separate legal matter to the annual wild birds declaration and that the inclusion of wood pigeon on the declaration is not to facilitate recreational hunting but rather for the prevention of damage to crops. I have no proposals to amend the Open Seasons orders.