The Irish Wildlife Trust has sought permission to re-introduce the greater-spotted woodpecker to Ireland.
Mr Conor Kelleher, chairman of the Trust, confirmed that his organisation has sought permission for the re-introduction of the bird, which was probably wiped out in the 17th century, as soon as possible.
"We are not exactly sure when this beautiful bird was wiped out, but the last reference to it was by O'Sullivan Beare writing about his forced march from Cork to Leitrim in the 17th Century," he said.
"Before that, the bird was referred to many times in writings as far back as the 7th century and its Irish name was an mórchnagaire breac.
"This bird is part of our heritage and culture and we think its departure cost us a few other species, like tree living bats and flycatchers," he said.
"That is because the bird excavates holes only in dead wood and will not harm living forests," he said.
Mr Kelleher said he has already had discussions with the farm organisations and forestry bodies which have cleared the way to the re-introduction. Any such move would have to be carried out under licence.
"The next step is to carry out an assessment of the habitat which would be available should the re-introduction go ahead.
"We believe there is sufficient habitat either in Wicklow or Killarney for this to happen," he said. Other issues to be examined would be the availability of prey and these assessments would be carried out in the coming months.
He said the birds could be supplied from Wales where an assessment is being carried out by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to ensure that the removal of birds for the Irish project would not harm the population there.
It was possible, he said, that the introduction could happen in 2006, if everything worked smoothly.
He said the last reports of the other woodpecker species in Ireland, the lesser-spotted woodpecker, date back to around 1802 when some were shot and later given to the Museum of Natural Science.