asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he is satisfied that the present caretaker arrangements of wild fowl sanctuaries is satisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

74.

asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry the number of wild fowl sanctuaries and their locations; and the number that does not have the services of a caretaker and their locations.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.

There are 66 wildfowl sanctuaries in the country, particulars of which are given on the appended list. Forty-seven of these — identified with a "C" on the list — have honorary wardens/caretakers who reside in the locality, visit the sanctuaries regularly, and report to my Department. Fourteen sanctuaries — identified with an "R"— are under the direct care of the Wildlife Ranger Service of my Department, and the remaining five Sanctuaries — identified with an "F"— are adjacent to State Forests and are looked after by forestry staff.

I am satisfied that all sanctuaries are adequately catered for under the present arrangements which are regularly reviewed by my Department.

LIST OF WILDFOWL SANCTUARIES

Carlow

R River Barrow (Muine Bheag)

Cavan

C Lough Oughter Group Cavan/Monaghan

C Lough Ramor

C Dartrey/Fairfield

Clare

C Balyallia Lake

C Islandavanna

R Mutton island

C Tullaher Lough

Cork

C Ballynamona/Shannagarry

C Kilcolman Bog

R Lough Aderry

F The Lee Reservoir

C The Lough

Donegal

C Ards

C Blanket Nook

C Dunfanaghy Lake

F Lough Fern

C Trawbreaga Bay

C Sheskinmore

Dublin

C Brittas Ponds

C North Bull Island

C Rogerstown Estuary

Galway

C Coole Lough

F Lough Derg (parts)

R Lough Rusheen

Galway/Mayo

R Moyne

Galway/Roscommon

C Muckanagh/Cloonlaughnan

Kerry

C Coon, Ventry

C Derrycunnihy/Gallavally

C Doolough/Tullaha

C Inch/Castlemaine Harbour (part)

C Lough Gill

C Rossbehy/Caragh Creek

Kildare

C Ballynafagh Lake (Blackwood Lake)

Kilkenny

R River Barrow (Goresbridge)

R Lough Cullin (Holy Lake)

Limerick

C Lough Gur

Limerick/Clare

C City of Limerick (part)

Louth

C Ballymacscanlan Estuary

C Lurgan Green

Mayo

C Carrowmore Lake

R Inishkea Islands

C Lough Carra

C Lough Conn

R Lough Mask

Meath/Louth

C Boyne Estuary (part)

Monaghan

C Emy Lough

Offaly/Tipperary

C Little Brosna

Roscommon

C Lough Funshinagh

C Annaghmore Lough

C Lough Croan

F Lough Key (part)

Roscommon/Sligo

C Lough Gara (part)

Sligo

F Drumcliffe Bay (part)

Tipperary

C Marlfield Lake

Waterford

C Coolfin Marshes

R River Blackwater

Westmeath

C Coosan Lough/Killinure Lough

C Lough Iron

Wexford

R Bannow Bay

C River Slaney (part)

R Rosslare Point

R Tern Island

R Tacumshin Lake (part)

Wicklow

C Broadlough

Wicklow/Kildare

C Poulaphouca