Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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594. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols that should be followed when an incident arises where multiple swans die on waterways in Ireland; if he will outline this process in detail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47073/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s primary function in relation to Avian Influenza is to help protect and to control outbreaks of the disease in poultry and captive birds. My Department monitors the Avian Influenza disease situation in wild birds to inform the risks presented to poultry and captive birds.

My Department carries out Avian Influenza surveillance testing throughout the year in wild birds to understand if the disease is present in the wild bird population. Where HPAI is confirmed in a particular location, to inform the epidemiological situation, it may not be necessary to collect further wild birds for sampling.

For health and safety reasons my officials only collect dead wild birds, for sampling, from waterways with the assistance of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). While my Department is responsible for the protection of the health of Irish poultry, wildlife comes under the remit of the NPWS.

Animals considered to be wild are not required under legislation to be provided for in terms of immediate veterinary treatment nor intervention from landowners.

The responsibility for removing and disposing of dead wild animals (including birds) from public lands rests with the relevant local authority. My officials have been working with local authorities in relation to dead wild birds found on their lands and their responsibilities as landowners.

Further information is available on my Department’s website at gov.ie - Avian influenza (bird flu) (www.gov.ie).