Brian Fitzgerald
Question:82 Mr. B. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the number of tourist shoot-promoters who submitted bag-returns in the year 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Tourist Shooting Facilities.
Brian Fitzgerald
Question:83 Mr. B. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of extensions of the open season order under the Wildlife Act, 1976, granted to shoot-promoters in the 1993-94 season; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Brian Fitzgerald
Question:84 Mr. B. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance if he will make it compulsory for tourist shoot-promoters to produce tax clearance certificates before being issued with gun days by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Brian Fitzgerald
Question:87 Mr. B. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the number of tourist shoot-promoters who submitted maps to the National Parks and Wildlife Service outlining their shooting areas during the 1993-94 season; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Brian Fitzgerald
Question:88 Mr. B. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the basis on which gun days being issued to tourist shoot-promoters are assessed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 83, 84, 87 and 88 together.
In an effort to assess the impact of tourist shooting particularly on migratory species, returns of game bags were requested from promoters. A total of 57 returns were received for the 1993/1994 hunting season. In addition the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) Rangers regularly check shooting parties and inspect game bags. An analysis of both of these indicate minimal impact on numbers. I believe that these are very important measures in assessing the impact of commercial shooting on wild birds particularly migratory species over the years.
Thirty-seven licences were issued to hunt pen-reared hen pheasants during the open season for cock pheasants from 1 November 1993 to 31 January 1994. Twelve licences were issued to hunt pen-reared pheasants after the open season closed on 31 January 1994. These licences ranged from five to 28 days and averaged 13 days. Three licences were issued to hunt pen-reared partridge up to 31 January 1994.
The assessment and allocation of "gun-days" to tourist shoot promoters by the NPWS does not involve the award of a contract by the Commissioners of Public Works and, consequently, does not fall within the ambit of the tax clearance procedure for public sector bodies and I have no plans to extend this procedure to such situations.
Tourist shoot promoters have to submit details (leases, maps, etc.) of their shooting rights to the NPWS so that these can be assessed for "gun day" capacity and hunting licences are granted or refused with reference to these assessments. Maps are requested to assist in identifying lands, but in most cases shooting lands are well known and long established. In particular copies of Coillte leases which do not contain maps are usually sufficient to identify the lands. In the 1993/1994 season 12 tourist shoot operators submitted maps.
Gun days are issued based on an assessment of the shooting capacity of the lands in question. In general allocations would be based on 1,000 acres per day per three guns. However, if a considerable amount of commonage is included, the number of guns would be reduced to one-two guns per 1,000 acres. With regards to Coillte lettings, the general rule of thumb would be 140 acres per day per gun. These are general criteria and each case is assessed on its own merit at the time.