NPWS pays Kildare Wildlife Rescue €50k for helping to rehabilitate birds caught in oil spill

Dan Donoher, founder of Kildare Wildlife Rescue, which helped to rescue more than 150 birds earlier this year. Photo: Moya Nolan

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed it gave €50,000 to Kildare Wildlife Rescue a newly opened charity that rescues and rehabilitates wildlife over an oil spill that affected more than 150 birds earlier this year.

The multi-agency response to the spill in May involved the Oiled Wildlife Response Network (OWRN), Birdwatch Ireland, the Coastguard and Kildare Wildlife Rescue (KWR).

Hundreds of volunteers combed the beaches from Skerries to Rosslare on the east coast after the spill on the bank holiday weekend to help rescue oiled birds.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the NPWS which is overseen by the Department of Housing said: “In light of the additional costs borne by voluntary/third-party bodies who assisted in the response to this emergency, payment of €50,000 was made available via the NPWS to Kildare Wildlife Rescue who played a vital lead and much-appreciated role in dealing with the birds affected.

“In terms of on-the-ground response, the NPWS monitored the coastline and collected oiled birds.

“The live oiled birds collected were sent to Kildare Wildlife Rescue for appropriate care and a large proportion of these birds have now been successfully treated and released. NPWS covered its own costs.”

Despite the major operation, the response from the local councils who investigated the spill has upset the volunteers involved in the case.

Wexford County Council told the Irish Examiner it did receive reports of possible oil/tar substance on Curracloe Beach and seabirds with oil on them on May 2.

However, “no evidence of pollution was detected and no source of contamination of wildlife was confirmed” following “extensive investigations.” 

Oiled Wildlife Response Network

Meanwhile, the Oiled Wildlife Response Network (OWRN) was later forced to announce the “heartbreaking decision” that it is winding down its operation, after 20 years, blaming a lack of government support and funding.

Despite playing a key role in overseeing the rescue of the oiled birds the group who train volunteers to act as ‘first responders’ in the event of an oil spill is currently winding down its operation.

Pauline Beades, founder of the organisation, confirmed the news on Facebook, saying: “Volunteers at OWRN have supplied this training, which is accredited with Eurowa, free of charge to concerned members of the public for the past 13 years.”