Hare Coursing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023

Tuesday, 5 December 2023

Questions (304)

Paul Murphy

Question:

304. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what hare coursing meetings have been monitored by NPWS rangers to date, including the release of hares after these meetings (details supplied); if he will ensure that every single hare coursing meeting is monitored from now on, and all harereleases, to get an accurate picture of the number of hares released into the wild; and whether, as part of the monitoring process, he will require the rangers to visit each coursing club prior to their meetings, to count hares kept in captivity and take note of ear tag numbers so that these can be checked against the list of hare tag numbers supplied to the NPWS as per Condition 4 of the Section 34 (Wildlife Act) Licence to Tag Hares. [53313/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The following hare coursing meetings have been monitored by NPWS staff during the 2023/24 hare coursing season: Kilflynn; Liscannor; Ennis and Clarecastle; Westmeath United; Abbeydorney; Ballyheigue; Edenderry; Loughrea; Ballinagar; Thurles; Castleisland; Fermoy and Grange; Freshford; Listowel; New Ross; Nenagh; Regional and Tradaree; Co. Cavan and Westport; Ballyduff; Enniscorthy; Killimer and Kilrush; Rathkeale and Limerick City.

ICC hare capture forms, control steward reports, veterinary reports and hare release forms along with NPWS monitoring report forms, where applicable, are being published on the NPWS website on an ongoing basis.

Meetings are monitored, where possible, by local NPWS staff and by DAFM, and an increased number of meetings have been monitored in recent years.