asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the information he has regarding the damage and destruction being caused to wildlife, animals and fish by mink which have escaped from mink farms; the steps which can be taken to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

While there are complaints from time to time about damage by wild mink to fish and other wildlife species, there is as yet no firm scientific evidence to enable its precise extent to be evaluated. However, with a view to obtaining more information on the subject, my Department have commissioned a study, due for completion in 1986, which is designed to examine behavioural aspects of mink in the wild, including distribution, population density, feeding preferences and need for control methods.

It is, of course, open to landowners whose property is being damaged by mink to take appropriate remedial action by lawful means.

The Minister is obviously admitting that there is little or no information available to his Department on this subject. Is he aware that there have been several complaints from farming organisations, such as the Irish Farmers Organisation, about the way mink are now roaming the countryside freely, infesting our rivers and causing enormous damage to poultry, wildlife and fish? Would he confirm, if it is within his knowledge or that of his Department, that these are mink which have escaped from mink farms which would be licensed by the planning authorities, which mink have now reverted to the wild status from captive status? Can anything be done in the interim, because 1986 seems a long time away?

I agree that problems arise here. The Deputy is quite right in saying that the reason we are so ignorant about the effects of mink is that they are not, if you like, a native species. Mink were introduced into this country and are now endemic in most of our streams and our rivers. In all cases the wild mink we have now originally escaped from mink farms which had been set up. In order to establish scientifically what can be done and what damage these wild mink are responsible for we have contracted a three year ecological survey or study of mink in Ireland. This began in 1983. It is a fairly complex area because mink are not one of our native species of animals Therefore we must go through this formula to establish beyond yea or nay what they are doing and what can be done. As I said in my original reply, there are lawful ways of eliminating mink who do damage to other animals by using traps or indeed by shooting them with legally held shotguns. Until we have had the final result of the study being carried out we are not in a position to give any further information on the matter.

Is the Minister aware that whilst our major mink farms — I think the largest is in Stradbally in Laois — and there is also one mink farm in my county — are run impeccably under absolutely satisfactory conditions, our information in Tipperary is that the wild mink we have there have actually escaped from mink farms in adjacent counties — I would not like to say which ones — but they have, as it were, swum up the river, have now reached our county? Can the Minister's Department do anything about that?

The Deputy will realise that stopping foreign mink swimming up the river to Stradbally could present something of a problem for us. I agree that the mink we now see in the wild are escapees from mink farms, of which there are several. There are strict regulations governing the licensing of mink farms by the Department of Agriculture under what I understand to be the Musk Rats Act of 1983.

It is an insult to a mink to be classified as a musk rat.

The main provisions of the licence is the prevention of mink escaping. Seemingly they do escape from less well run establishments and cause problems.

The Minister went to great lengths to explain to us that there were legal methods available for the extermination of these animals. I think he mentioned shooting them. I hope the Minister will appreciate that it is quite difficult to shoot them when they are swimming in a river, or at least we found it quite difficult to do so.

I presume it is.

Do the people who are carrying out the survey or study do actual field work and, if so, in what areas have they already undertaken such field work?

I have not got the details but I understand the field work will form the major part of their study——

Have they started it?

It is ongoing at present and field work will form part of their programme of study.

I think the Minister mentioned 1983 as the date of commencement——

It is a three year study.

Have they actually done field work yet and, if so, would the Minister know where?

I have not got that information in my brief.

The Minister might let me know.

I will, indeed.