Written Answers Nos. 1097-1100
1098. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if investment will be given to Kenmare Pier, County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17025/23]
View answerThe responsibility for the development, and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance. I am also mindful that the primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In recent years my Department had made modest amounts of funding available to local authorities for certain coastal capital projects. Between the years 2011 to 2021, Kerry County Council received funding of over €2m from my Department in this regard, including €91,477 for Kenmare Pier and vicinity.
The Deputy may be aware that I announced the roll-out of the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme 2022-2023 last January, and that in December 2022 I announced €55.3m in funding for 164 projects around the coast. The BALAMI Scheme was one of the recommendations of the Seafood Sector Taskforce which I established following Brexit. In keeping with the Taskforce recommendation, this scheme is being proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve running throughout 2022 and 2023.
Brexit has and will continue to affect our seafood sector in a unique way compared to other industries. This scheme is an unprecedented opportunity for us to invest in our publicly owned piers and harbours to deliver safe, accessible, lasting infrastructure and thereby support economic diversification, complementing other measures such as Community Led Local Development via the Fisheries Local Action Groups around our coastline.
The application window for submissions for funding of BALAMI projects is closed and all funding under the Scheme has been awarded. Kerry County Council has been approved for €5.31m to support 6 projects under the Scheme. The initiative for identifying projects rested with the local authorities.
1099. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of coursing clubs that were active in the 2022-2023 season. [17152/23]
View answerCoursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann, Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club.
The organisation consists of affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are governed by the ICC’s rules and regulations.
The ICC has informed this Department that 90 Affiliated Coursing Clubs were active during the 2022/23 coursing season.
1100. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any welfare studies have been conducted by his Deptartment or Veterinary Ireland on the physical and mental trauma hares suffer as a result of coursing. [17155/23]
View answerCoursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann; hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club. The organisation consists of 89 affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are governed by the ICC’s rules and regulations.
The granting of licenses for the netting and tagging of hares is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – National Parks and Wildlife Service.
A monitoring committee on coursing is in place, comprising officials from my Department, the ICC and the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), to monitor developments in coursing and, in that regard, the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a controlled manner.
The committee meets annually to review the previous coursing season and any matters arising.
It is important that those involved in coursing operate in accordance with the regulatory framework and that the welfare of both hares and greyhounds is at the forefront at all times.
Veterinary Ireland is an association of veterinary practitioners which is independent of my Department and any questions for Veterinary Ireland should be directed to their office.
