Michael Healy-Rae
Question:496. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding gun clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30736/15]
View answerTuesday, 22 September 2015
Questions (496)
Written answers
Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988. Day-to-day operational matters, such as the recreational use of their forest estate including the issue of licences for hunting on their properties, are the responsibility of the company. Information was, however, sought from Coillte in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. Coillte advise that it permits certain types of hunting on its estate where it is deemed compatible with forest management objectives and where it is not considered to compromise the safety of other forest users or negatively impact the sustainability of local populations of quarry species. This policy is in line with Coillte's Recreation Policy and Deer Management Policy, and fully reflects the principles of multiple use forestry.
The company also advises that hunting on Coillte land is carefully managed and strictly regulated through the issue of licences. Licences for the hunting of game, deer and other quarry species are issued for periods of up to 5 years. In the interests of fair competition, it is Coillte's general policy to advertise all available licensed areas to open public tender. Two such tender competitions are undertaken annually with catalogues of available licences, tender forms together with tendering instructions being published on the www.coillteoutdoors.com website. Interested parties can register online to be notified of forthcoming tender competitions. Tender competitions operate on a “sealed bid system” where bids are posted in sealed envelopes to the relevant regional offices. Following the closing date of the tender competition, tender bids are opened and all tender bids are evaluated based on a published scoring matrix with more information available on www.coillteoutdoors.ie.
The company state that cognisance is taken of the annual fee offered, the applicant's previous experience, their commitment to safety as well as environmental and local interest considerations. I understand that Coillte is moving towards a position whereby only persons who have completed an approved competence assessment will be permitted to hunt on its lands and that this is currently a mandatory requirement for all those intending to hunt wild deer. Coillte add that it has produced codes of practice which establish minimum standards expected of all persons engaged in these activities alongside compliance with national legislation and conditions of the licence agreement.
Question No. 497 withdrawn.