Wildlife Rehabilitation Support Scheme: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Malcolm Noonan (GP), Agricultural Panel

I move:
“That Seanad Éireann:
recognises:
- the need for the Government to respond to the ‘Whole of Government, Whole of Society’ approach adopted in the fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan and upcoming National Nature Restoration Plan by ensuring that verifiable and proven measures to maintain healthy wildlife populations are given due support;
- the threats and pressures facing wildlife in Ireland due to development, loss of habitat, pollution and road collisions;
- the valuable work carried out by wildlife rescue centres across Ireland, both for wildlife on land and at sea;
- this work is critical to saving and rehabilitating many species of wild birds, bats, cetaceans and mammals and returning them appropriately to the wild following treatment;
- that Ireland’s wildlife rehabilitation centres are volunteer led, supported by professional veterinary staff, and use best practice when treating, handling and releasing wild species;
- that wildlife rescue centres are reliant largely on voluntary fundraising to fund their day-to-day activities and are experiencing increased levels of activity due to wider environmental pressures and increased public awareness;
calls on the Government to:
- establish a multi-annual fund to support the work of wildlife rehabilitation centres; the Wildlife Rescue Support Scheme (WRSS) would be established in the Budget using a revenue fund derived from fines imposed for wildlife crime in the courts and Exchequer funding;
notes that:
- funding would be split between a revenue (ongoing administration) fund and a capital fund to carry out works/improvements to facilities and for the purchase of equipment;
- such a fund would be only available to wildlife rescue centres that meet the following mandatory criteria:
- Licensing and Regulatory Compliance:
- hold a current licence issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS);
- have undergone an NPWS site inspection within the past 12 months;
- maintain a strict policy of not keeping educational or ambassador wild animals;
- commit to reporting any suspected wildlife crime to the appropriate authorities;
- Experience, Capacity, and Scope of Care:
- be an active wildlife rehabilitator or volunteer for a minimum of three years;
- provide a detailed account of the species cared for and the maximum care capacity of the facility;
- demonstrate availability of out-of-hours care for wildlife patients;
- Governance, Financial Accountability, and Planning:
- submit recent financial accounts;
- provide a current strategic plan;
- supply at least two letters of support from relevant stakeholders;
- Record-Keeping, Data Sharing, and Veterinary Support:
- maintain detailed electronic records of all wildlife admissions and treatments;
- make rehabilitation data available for legitimate research and conservation purposes;
- provide a letter of agreement from a registered veterinary practice confirming they provide clinical care and prescribed medication for wildlife patients;
- have been visited by a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine veterinarian, or be open to such a visit;
- Facilities, Biosecurity, and Site Management:
- maintain clear separation between wildlife and domestic animals on site;
- maintain a designated isolation area for new or sick wildlife;
- implement and maintain strong biosecurity measures to prevent disease transmission;
- Policies, Procedures, and Professional Standards:
- maintain written policies and procedures covering:
- animal care protocols;
- euthanasia procedures;
- invasive species management;
- clinical waste management;
- demonstrate continuous professional development on an annual basis;
- the following criteria is desirable for wildlife rescue centres:
- Education, Outreach, and Conservation Contribution:
- provide education and outreach activities related to wildlife rehabilitation;
- education and outreach may be delivered either online or in person;
requests the Government to:
- provide an update on the progression of the WRSS within six months of the motion being passed.”

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Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29