The cuckoo and the corncrake will be "as dead as dodos" unless measures are taken to protect them, according to Fine Gael's Arts and Heritage spokesman, Mr Dinny McGinley.

He said there were "vast tracts of this country where the cuckoo is now unheard". Pointing out that the Minister for Arts and Heritage, Ms de Valera, is responsible for the protection of wild bird life, Mr McGinley said it was not to be heard in Carlow and only two had been reported in Clare.

"I do not know about Waterford, Monaghan or other parts of the country, but the cuckoo is becoming an endangered species where it used to be the corncrake. The only part of Ireland where the corncrake can be heard now is on Tory Island."

He asked what the Minister was doing to protect the two species which "will both be as dead as dodos if things continue to deteriorate as they are doing".

Ms de Valera said there was special provision for the corncrake only for which "we might well have seen its demise".

She also promised to consider a proposal by Mr Austin Deasy (FG, Waterford) for a census of wildlife in general.