Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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316. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that are being put in place to safeguard wild bird populations against the risk of avian flu outbreak; if he will develop a surveillance, testing and safe disposal programme; if he will put measures in place to stop the unnecessary disturbance of wild birds that may be affected by the virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45270/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As I’m sure the Deputy is aware, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is currently circulating in breeding seabirds around Ireland. There have been unprecedented numbers of reports of sick and dead wild birds to my Department in recent days. Over the last two weeks in particular, large numbers of dead gannets have been detected at breeding colonies at sea and are now being washed up ashore.

My Department’s role is to conduct avian influenza surveillance, which forms part of my Department’s Early Warning System for the detection of circulating avian influenza viruses, thereby informing its assessment as to the level of risk the disease poses to Ireland’s poultry sector. While my Department is responsible for the protection of the health of Irish poultry, wildlife comes under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Local Authorities are responsible for the collection and disposal of dead animals, including birds, on publicly owned lands e.g. beaches, I understand that they already have systems in place whereby such 'Category 1' material can be appropriately disposed of.

I am informed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that, overall it is not possible to prevent HPAI from occurring in our wild bird populations. This summer a number of measures were instigated with a view to reducing transmission rates of AI within and between seabird colonies. These measures included a suspension of seabird ringing activities throughout the State and changes in practices of seabird conservation wardens and researchers at various seabird colonies around Ireland. Now that the breeding season is coming to an end and winter and passage migrant birds are arriving, further measures which may be of assistance to reduce impact on our wild bird populations from AI are under consideration by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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317. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of wild birds with avian flu that have been notified to his Department by county to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45271/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Since July of this year, over 80 wild birds were submitted to our laboratories for testing. Of these almost 60 positive avian influenza cases were confirmed, all are subtype H5N1. To date all but one have been seabirds. These include large number of gannets in Counties Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Dublin, Donegal and Louth, a raven in Kerry and a guillemot in Donegal. We still await results for a small number of other wild birds.

The table below sets out details of the number of submissions received by my Department’s Regional Laboratories since July. It should be noted that each submission may consist of a number of birds.

Wild bird submissions 1st July- 12.09.2022

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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318. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional funding that has been allocated for the purposes of dealing with the avian flu outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45272/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Due to the unpredictable nature of Avian Influenza (AI) it is not possible to anticipate in advance the amount of funding that might be required to both control and stamp out the disease, and cover any compensation that might accrue to flock owners. As I’m sure the Deputy is aware there were six outbreaks in 2021, all in the Cavan/Monaghan area, in 2020 there was a single outbreak in Co. Wicklow and prior to that the most recent case of notifiable AI in poultry occurred in 2012.

Funding to deal with AI outbreaks in 2021 and 2022 were absorbed by the Department’s annual allocations. Any possible requirement for funding later this year will be monitored closely on an ongoing basis. A decision on the funding required for any possible outbreaks in 2023 will be made in the context of the ongoing 2023 Estimates process.

The presence of AI in wild bird populations currently poses a higher risk than previously present at this time of year. For that reason, anyone travelling from an area known or suspected to be affected with avian influenza or where wild birds have been found dead should not come into contact with poultry/captive birds without prior cleaning and disinfection of clothing and footwear. Furthermore, poultry owners and keepers of captive birds are urged to maintain the highest standards of bio-security to protect their flocks.

Strict bio-security remains the number one preventative measure to introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks. I will be working closely with stakeholder again this year to ensure that we can work collaboratively and taken any measures necessary to protect our poultry industry. Further information on bio-security and other advice/guidance is available on my Department’s website.