Bat roosts protected, no need to register

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture says bats are automatically protected without the need to register their roosts.

A Freedom of information request to the department asked how locations can be registered as protected bat roosts.

But in its response, DEFA says the Wildlife Act - which makes it illegal to damage, destroy, or obstruct roosts - doesn't have a register.

Instead, any bat roost is protected, registered or not.