National Parks and Wildlife Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Questions (364)

Matt Carthy

Question:

364. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure proper game management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52465/21]

Written answers

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

Under the Wildlife Acts, there is an Open Season for hunting game bird species, which extends from 1 September to varying dates up to the end of January depending on the species concerned. There is no separate licence required from my Department to shoot listed wildfowl unless it is over State foreshore, inland waters and accretions belonging to the State.

Under Section 30 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, I may grant permission to “hunt protected wild animals and wild birds on or over foreshore belonging to the State or on or over land belonging to the State and which is either covered by any inland waters or comprised in the lakeshore accretion from any lake, or accretion from the sea where such land is owned by the State” .

In addition to this, in situations where serious damage is being caused to agricultural crops, forestry plantations, other fauna, etc. by different species, there is a facility under the Wildlife Acts for a person to obtain a permit from my Department to take action where serious damage is being caused. This permit is obtained under Section 42 of the Wildlife Acts.

Applications for such permits are considered by my Department, through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), on a case by case basis, against a protected species which can include the scaring, capturing or killing of the said species. The applications are subject to examination by Regional staff in the NPWS.

Applications may also be made to the NPWS under Section 29(1) of the Wildlife Acts for a licence to hunt deer. There is an annual Open Season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The current hunting season or open season for deer operates generally from 1 September to the last day of February, depending on the species and gender of deer.