Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2020
104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the issue of deer hunting licences (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25875/20]
View answerI am aware of some delays in my Department this year in processing deer hunting licence applications and I am aware that many deer hunters have not received their licenses yet this year. The delays arise as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 public health emergency and the effects this has had on travel and working arrangements. While staff in the unit that deals with the issuing of licenses continued to attend the office during the crisis, given restrictions, the numbers of such staff attending was, of course, restricted. The database system used for managing deer licensing is not currently a web based one and some technical challenges arose in facilitating the processing of such licenses for staff working remotely with laptops. Staff are working flat out to eliminate the backlog as quickly as possible.
I am aware that it has been suggested by individuals, hunting and farming bodies that I would extend licenses for the previous deer hunting season to allow hunters with such a license to hunt after 1 September with their previous licenses. However, the provisions in the Wildlife Acts do not allow for the extension of deer hunting licences and licences for last season automatically expired under the law on 31 July this year.
