Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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155. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 353 of 11 May 2021, when he will acknowledge that the derogation allowing the year-round shooting of wood pigeons breaches articles 7 and 9 of the EU Birds Directive given there is no scientific evidence that wood pigeons cause serious damage to crops in Ireland and that the NPWS has expressed concern regarding the negative impact wood pigeon shooting is having on the protected and threatened stock dove species; and if he will review his previous reply in view of same. [28946/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department intends to carry out a review of the issue of pigeon damage to crops during the summer months, including the collection of new scientific data, with a view to informing decisions for future declaration. It was not possible to progress this work last year due to the restrictions imposed by Covid-19.

A derogation in respect of Wild Birds for the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 was signed on 30 April 2021 and is posted on the website of the NPWS. The wood pigeon is included on the declaration this year. While I have no plans to amend this derogation, my Department is committed to carrying out a review of all the species on the Declaration list on a phased basis. This year, for example, a survey is being undertaken on the gull population.