Wildlife Rehabilitation Support Scheme: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Joanne Collins (SF), Agricultural Panel

I commend and thank the Cross-Party Group on bringing this motion forward. It is a very important one. The rehabilitation of our wildlife is very important. It hits the heart of rural Ireland and what it is. We are be able to drive down the road and see all these amazing animals. I leave my house and I see deer. Unfortunately, one of my daughters does not know much about animals and she told me one of them was a teenager. I do not know how she figured that one out, but they have decided to put labels on them. In County Limerick alone we have Bat Rehabilitation Ireland, based in Bruree. It has captured, rehabilitated and released over 2,000 bats since the centre opened in 2019. It looks after all of Ireland. It does such great work but, again, it has to fundraise for everything. A lot of work goes into it, including veterinary costs, capture and release.
Animal Magic is based in Kilmallock in County Limerick. It has stated that its costs are escalating every year. It is not just freeing or housing animals; it has veterinary costs and the cost of going out to collect animals, but also sourcing safe areas where it can release the animals. It is not a charity so it cannot fundraise or ask for donations. A scheme like this would be very helpful to it. I am delighted to see it is multi-annual funding because stability is needed when running what is not a business but a vocation. It is definitely key that the funding would be multi-annual.
I will not take up much time. I just wanted to say "Well done". This is an absolutely fantastic motion. I knew it was Senator Noonan's motion. We always know when he is behind something. It is a nice motion. It is not contentious but it is very important. We have organisations that look after dogs and cats, the nice animals that we can rehome, but you cannot exactly rehome a bat. You cannot go on a website and ask if there is anybody who can take this lovely bat home. There is a lot more involved in it. The motion is fantastic.

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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