Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps that the National Parks and Wildlife Service plan to take to address the growing population of mink along the shores of the River Shannon and Lough Derg in view of the reported damage that this species is causing to native species in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34332/22]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has received any information or correspondence regarding the number of mink along the River Shannon and Lough Derg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34333/22]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if surveys have been conducted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to investigate the damage that the growing mink population is having on other species of animals and fish along the River Shannon and Lough Derg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34334/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 277 and 278 together.

A detailed review of the capture, monitoring and euthanasia techniques used for mink was carried out for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department  in 2009 and is published in full here: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM40.pdf

The review explored the different strategies used in mink control; focusing on eradications, control over large areas, and intensive control at sites specifically for bird conservation. Recommendations for techniques and strategies were made for potential mink control projects in Ireland. Some of these are now being applied, particularly in relation to important ground-nesting bird sites, including those in the Shannon catchment.

For instance, NPWS is engaged in mink control measures on Scattery Island in the Shannon estuary during the bird nesting season.  NPWS regional staff have also been engaged in mink control measures on Lough Derg in 2021 and 2022.

The review also highlighted the ongoing risk of mink escapes from operating mink farms. Mink farming is now being phased out in Ireland with the remaining few farms due to close, following the introduction of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 which prohibits fur farming in Ireland.  

The review also examined the likely cost of a mink control operation at a catchment level and provided figures that allowed the costs to be extrapolated to the national level in Ireland. Based on these estimates a national programme to control and eradicate mink today could be expected to cost in the region of €80M-100M. 

Work is currently underway on new legislation in Ireland to strengthen the legislative and policy framework available to tackle invasive species. The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future - contains a commitment to a national invasive alien species management plan. Work on this plan is in its early stages but there will be comprehensive engagement with other departments and agencies to develop a cohesive and effective response to emerging invasive alien species issues.

Furthermore, Ireland’s fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan is currently being finalised and will build on the work carried out under the previous plan to manage, control and, where possible, eradicate invasive alien species in Ireland.