Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

92. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the work being carried out by his Department into the population growth of seagulls in a location (details supplied), their migration patterns and status as a protected species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2639/26]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves. The mission of the NPWS, as stated in its Strategic Plan 2023-2025, is to protect nature.

The NPWS monitors the breeding populations of all breeding seabirds in Ireland including gulls, to inform assessments at both the site (Special Protection Area or SPA) and national levels. In 2021, my Department surveyed Balbriggan, in the first ever national survey for urban nesting gulls in Ireland. The national survey report noted that it is a well-known area for urban breeding gulls with records showing as many as 57 nests as far back as 1996. The survey recorded 597 breeding Herring Gull territories and 10 breeding Lesser Black-backed Gull territories, which is higher than those recorded in a 2018 survey of the area. The 2021 survey also indicated that as many as 1,485 pairs of Herring Gull and 10 pairs of the Lesser Black-backed Gull attempted to breed in Balbriggan in 2021. In terms of their migration patterns, both the Herring Gull breeding and winter populations are considered short-distance migrants. The Lesser Black-backed Gull breeding population was found to be a long-distance migrant but the winter population is considered to be a short-distance migrant.

All wild birds naturally occurring in the state in Ireland are afforded protections under the Birds Directive and national legislation.