THE COST of a national cull of feral mink would be prohibitive at this time, Minister for Heritage Jimmy Deenihan told the Dáil.

He said his department was concentrating its resources on protecting the nesting sites of rare and threatened bird species such as the red-throated diver, corncrake, grey partridge, and waders and terns from a range of predators, including mink.

“Experience has shown that targeted control of predators at specific times can have a significant benefit to the breeding success of these species,” he added.

The Minister was replying to Independent Kerry South TD Tom Fleming, who said there had been a massive increase in the number of wild mink. He said they were damaging to other species of wildlife and rare species of birds. “There have also been attacks on domestic farmyard fowl,” he said.

Mr Deenihan said he was aware of the work of the National Association of Regional Game Councils on the issue. He added that his department had provided €20,000 to the organisation towards the payment of a bounty to hunters this year.

Mr Deenihan said he had requested that as far as possible, special attention be given to Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Kerry, where his department had already concentrated its efforts against feral mink.

Mink found in the wild were descended from animals escaping from fur farms. They had been breeding in the countryside since the 1950s and were now found throughout much of Ireland.

A 2009 report had estimated that the population of wild mink in the State could total between 20,500 and 33,500 individuals.