Minister Noonan announces plans to purchase island on Lough Ree for strategic management of breeding waders

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has announced his intention to purchase Clawinch Island on Lough Ree in order to protect threatened wading birds. Lough Ree is a designated Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation, and was recently identified as the most important site in Ireland for breeding waterbirds.