Written Answers Nos. 370-386
370. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure that actions outlined in the Implementation Plan for the Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 are implemented in a timely manner and are adequately resourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32625/23]
View answerMy Department published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 Implementation Plan on 22 June 2023. It may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/.
The Implementation Plan provides for the detailed implementation of the joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 developed by the Housing Agency, my Department, the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which sets out the Government’s vision for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027. The Implementation Plan will support the primary objective of the Strategy which is ‘to facilitate disabled people to live independently with the appropriate choices and control over where, how and with whom they live, promoting their inclusion in the community’.
The Strategy and Implementation Plan will operate under the framework of Housing for All-A New Plan for Ireland (published in September 2021) which provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum. The Plan is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities and older people.
A National Implementation Steering Group, established in February 2023 and chaired by the Housing Agency, has responsibility to oversee and support uniform implementation and monitoring at national and local level of the actions and outcomes of the Strategy.
371. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline, on a step-by-step basis, the process provided for in section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) whereby the full administrative area of a housing authority i.e. an entire local authority area is capable of designation as a rent pressure zone; if this process is capable of being utilised to designate the Clogher Electoral District in County Louth as an RPZ given the fact that it is the only electoral district in County Louth that is not, for reasons set out in a Parliamentary Questions reply (details supplied) to ensure fairness and equity for tenants in this electoral district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32630/23]
View answerAs stated in answer to question number 354 of 30 May 2023, the process for designating a Local Authority area is the same as designating a Local Electoral Area.
In the case of the local authority area of County Louth, the criteria to be satisfied under section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Acts for designation as a RPZ are as follows:
- the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal, and
- the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, is in the case of any LEA outside of the Greater Dublin Area (i.e. Dublin, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow), above the average rent in the State excluding rents in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA)..
Each RTB quarterly Rent Index Report includes a table of the data used to establish whether each LEA fulfills the criteria for designation as an RPZ.
The data from the Rent Index Report for Q4 2022 relating to the local authority area of County Louth is detailed in the table below:
|
Local Authority (LA) |
Quarters >7% |
2022 Q4 |
|
Louth |
2 |
€1,250.64 |
While rental inflation in the County Louth area has been above the Non-GDA Standardised Average Rent of €1,130.97, the LA has only been above 7% in 2 of the last 6 quarters, thereby not satisfying the criteria for designation as an RPZ at this time.
Section 24A(6) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 states:
“(6) Where a local area is prescribed by order as a rent pressure zone and, subsequently, any local electoral areas are duly amended in a manner that affects the area of the local electoral area so prescribed, then the order shall continue to have effect as if the local electoral are concerned had not been so amended.”
I also would like to draw your attention to the thorough review of the private rental sector which is currently underway in my Department. This will ascertain what an improved fully functioning private rental sector should look like in the long term, and members of the public are now being invited to participate in the comprehensive review. This delivers on an undertaking given in the Housing for All Action Plan Update from November 2022.
The review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market. It will draw conclusions on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable, viable, safe, and secure framework for both landlords and tenants. The Government will act on the review’s recommendations.
A central aspect of the review is targeted engagement with various stakeholders and direct public input via a public consultation process - further details are available at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/consultation/ea0ea-public-consultation-review-of-the-private-residential-rental-sector/.
372. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline what training the human resources disability officer in his Department has undertaken and is scheduled to undertake in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32634/23]
View answerThe Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) for my Department sits within the Human Resources Unit. Their role is as follows:
• To act as the point of contact for staff with disabilities, their managers and HR
• To assist and support staff with disabilities and their line managers by the provision of necessary information, appropriate contacts, guidance, suggestions and advice
• To assist in the implementation of best HR practice in line with equality legislation
• To facilitate increased awareness of disability throughout the organisation.
The DLO can support both managers and employees to ensure that reasonable accommodations, where possible, are made available when required.
There is no formal training available tailored to the role of the DLO in the Civil Service. The DLO attends regular meetings of the interdepartmental DLO Network, which provides support and advice to those in the role e.g. Disability Awareness & Reasonable Accommodations training and training from the National Disability Authority (NDA) on requirements under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. Additionally, the DLO attended Equality Awareness Training within the Department in 2021 as well as Autism Awareness Training. To date in 2023 the DLO has attended webinars by Employers for Change on Strategies on Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace, See Change on Mental Health Judgement in the Workplace and Legal Island's Beyond Ticking the Box: Creating Real Impact with inclusion at work.
In the performance of their role the DLO seeks advice as required, including from HR, ICT, the Chief Medical Officer, the NDA and other disabilities advocacy groups.
373. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will advise on the current backlog of cases with An Bord Pleanála; the average timeline for completion on decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32652/23]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to decide appeals as expeditiously as may be and, for that purpose, to take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that, insofar as is practicable, there are no avoidable delays at any stage in the determination of appeals.
It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission, or further submissions from other participants including third parties, may not meet the 18 week target.
The total number of Board members serving in An Bord Pleanála is now 15, the maximum now provided for under the legislation and the greatest number of serving Board members ever. The Board has advised that it will take a period of time for the impact of new temporary Board Members to be evident in addressing the backlog of cases on hand.
An Bord Pleanála has also received increased resourcing of staff with over 300 posts agreed by my Department. This is an increase in the overall agreed staffing levels of the Board in excess of 50% since 2021. With this significant increase in resourcing, in conjunction with the maximum number of Board Members appointed, the Board has advised that it is working to address the backlog of cases that are currently awaiting a decision as quickly as possible.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
In order to be of assistance, my Department sought the information requested from the Board, who advised that an updated statement on the matter can be found on the Board's website via the following link: www.pleanala.ie/en-IE/BacklogInformation.
374. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of affordable housing developments currently in the planning process or under construction, broken down by local authority, funding stream, and stage in the planning/construction process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32662/23]
View answerThe planning status of affordable housing developments in each area is a matter for the local authority concerned.
Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. of these 54,000 homes, 36,000 will be affordable purchase homes and 18,000 will be cost rental homes, to be delivered across the various delivery streams, including First Home.
2022 saw the first affordable housing delivery in a decade by local authorities and the first ever affordable housing delivery by the LDA. I anticipate that the momentum generated by this initial and welcome delivery will be ramped up over 2023 and 2024. A pipeline of housing delivery is now in place across our delivery partners and under ongoing development by local authorities, AHB's and the LDA.
At local level, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery and foreseen output from other delivery streams. They set out projected delivery on an annual basis from 2022 to 2026. These plans were published on their respective websites in July 2022.
375. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide his advice on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32663/23]
View answerThe decision to zone land for development confers a benefit on relevant landowners, which results in an increase in the value of the land in question, with further uplift in value accruing when planning permission is granted. Such development is generally dependent on the provision of the necessary supporting infrastructure by the State.
Under current legislative arrangements, the principal mechanisms to secure a proportion of the benefit attributable to the decision to zone and permit development on land are via Part V social and affordable housing obligations and through section 48 and 49 development contributions. Development contributions made to the local authority are not sufficient to deliver all of the essential infrastructure that is necessary to enable housing development. Accordingly, Housing Policy Objective 12.1 of Housing for All (September 2021) outlined an action to bring forward measures for the State to share in a fairer way from the land value gains secured through zoning/designation and planning permission decisions, referring to measures previously recommended by the Kenny Report and more recently by NESC.
Government approved an initial General Scheme in December 2021 to set out proposals to introduce Land Value Sharing. The proposals set out in the revised General Scheme (www.gov.ie/en/publication/0ad37-general-scheme-planning-and-development-land-value-sharing-and-urban-development-zones-bill-2022/) published on 14 April 2023 are the result of significant analysis and engagement undertaken since the publication of the initial General Scheme in December 2021, including an economic appraisal and detailed discussion with the Office of the Attorney General, valuation experts and engagement with key stakeholders.
A key challenge in implementing LVS is ensuring that the mechanism captures fair value for the State, but avoids disincentivising housing supply. As a result, the design of the measure was changed from the 2021 proposals to be a ‘zoning uplift’ only with early certainty as to the quantum of the obligation, based on the date of the zoning decision. Landowners will be required to submit a self-assessment of the Existing Use Value (EUV) and Market Value (MV) of the land based on the date of the zoning decision. This will allow for the extent of the obligation, namely 30% of the difference between the EUV and MV, to be calculated at the outset and this should influence transactions thereafter, with the knowledge that the obligation will need to be paid should the land be developed. The valuations will be entered onto a register published by the local authority, which will also bring greater clarity on land values from the outset of the development process.
LVS will be applied as a condition of planning permission, with any obligations secured to be used by local authorities in the provision of infrastructure, services and facilities to enable housing development and to support communities. Certain types of development are to be excluded from liability, namely the development of social and affordable housing and small scale residential and commercial development.
The General Scheme is accompanied by an explanatory memorandum to outline the objectives and details of the proposed measures. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has recently completed pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposals. In finalising the draft Bill for approval by Government, the report of the Committee and any recommendations contained therein will be taken into account.
I am precluded from commenting on any particular site or proposal with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned by virtue of Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
376. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a scheme (details supplied) will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32720/23]
View answerI understand the question refers to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.
The Regulations for the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) were subject to a consultation process that began in 2022 with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups. My Department continued to engage with a number of stakeholders in the finalisation of the Regulations and Guidelines in recent weeks.
I commenced the 2022 Act on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and the implementing guidelines were made on 29 June 2023.
The enhanced grant scheme is now open to applications with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
377. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reopening the period for the registration of septic tanks in view of the recent reports about septic tanks' failing inspections, which would enable households that did not register in 2013 to avail of the septic tank grant to carry out necessary repair works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32721/23]
View answer378. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will change the qualifying criteria for the septic tank grant to enable households that self-report a fault to qualify, rather than just households that have been inspected or those in a prioritised area for action in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32722/23]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS, commonly known as a septic tank) is responsible for ensuring that it is fit for purpose including its maintenance and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment.
My Department provides financial support though grant funding to assist householders to carry out works to rectify or upgrade defective septic tanks. The grant schemes are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. In order to be eligible for a grant, the owner must have registered their septic tank with the local authority by the prescribed date of 1 February 2013.
I am pleased to say that approximately 98% of all systems are registered with the local authorities and having a strict cut-off date to register played a key role in this.
My Department is currently carrying out a review of all matters relating to the grant scheme – the review is at an advanced stage. Extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders including a recent focused workshop with local authority staff administering the grant has been completed.
A number of points were raised in respect of the qualifying criteria for the grant. My Department is actively considering the points raised including the prescribed date requirement, as a matter of priority.
379. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify if the planning exemptions announced by him in February 2022, where he stated that no planning permission is needed for the conversion of vacant pubs into homes (up to nine units) includes an exemption for the related construction of an updated waste water treatment system for those new homes. [32734/23]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. The exemptions provided for in the Planning and Development Regulations are kept under regular review.
Under Housing for All, the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 (the 2022 Regulations) - which extend the operation of the previous 2018 Regulations in this regard until end 2025 - provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises to residential use, including the conversion of vacant public houses to residential use. This measure is aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply, in keeping with the Government’s Town Centre First policy and the Vacant Homes Action Plan.
It should be noted that planning exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and would need to be considered on a case by case basis. The provision of onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems are not exempt under the Planning Act or the Regulations. The provision of such systems must comply with the Environmental Protection Agency code of practice and standards in this regard. Therefore, it is appropriate that these works should be considered by the relevant local authority as part of a planning application process.
If a person wishes to establish whether or not planning permission is required for a specific development proposal, they can seek a declaration from their local authority under Section 5 of the Act.
380. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications made for the vacant home refurbishment grant; the number of approved application and the number of those who have drawn down the grant, by county, since the grant scheme was opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32784/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics
382. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of his Department’s investigation into alleged unlicenced seaweed harvesting in the Kenmare River by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32791/23]
View answerMy Department operates a consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended), managing a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. The foreshore area stretches from the high water mark out to a distance of twelve nautical miles – a total area around Ireland of approximately 39,000 sq. kilometres.Section 3 of the Act provides for the granting of a licence for the removal of or the disturbance of beach material on the Foreshore. Beach material is defined in the Act and includes in its definition “seaweed whether growing or rooted on the seashore or deposited or washed up thereon by the action of tides, winds, and waves or any of them”. Any individual or Company is required to apply for a Foreshore Consent for the harvesting of wild seaweed on the foreshore unless they hold traditional rights to harvest wild seaweed. These traditional rights to harvest wild seaweed may be related to property rights, known as appurtenant rights or built up through harvesting from the same area over a period of time known as a profit-a-prendre rights. Therefore, where these rights apply, a licence under the 1933 Foreshore Act is not required by the holder of that right in order to harvest seaweed, nor can any other entity be licenced under the Foreshore Act to harvest seaweed in an area where existing formal or informal rights to harvest seaweed already exist.A site investigation to examine the report of alleged unlicensed seaweed harvesting in the Kenmare River SAC was undertaken on the 24 May 2023 and no harvesting of wild seaweed was found to be taking place during the inspection.Unfortunately, these matters can be very difficult to pursue, especially in regards to taking enforcement action. Firstly, the identity of the individuals harvesting the seaweed would need to be determined, and then it would need to be established if these individuals hold traditional rights to harvest the wild seaweed in the area.The Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI) is responsible for the legal registration of informal rights of traditional seaweed harvesters, however, there are a number of issues in the registration of these rights, such as where the rights have been passed from generation to generation and individuals not registering their existing rights as it is understood to be well known locally that they hold the rights to harvest wild seaweed.Ireland's National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) commits to supporting the sustainable harvesting of seaweed, having regard to the important economic and social contribution it makes to coastal communities. There is a growing need for enhanced policy development in this area and it is envisioned to identify a strategic policy lead for this industry that would support the development of wide ranging national policy for the wild seaweed harvesting sector in order to maintain the wider maritime ecosystem responsibly and ensure the protection of this valuable natural resource for future generations.
383. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the publication of the revised guidelines for rural housing; the expected timeline for the public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32792/23]
View answerUpdated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other.
NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social (intrinsic part of the community) or economic (persons working full or part time) need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
Due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, will comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
The draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
384. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of section 28 guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht areas; if the draft guidelines have been finalised to date; the timeline for publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32793/23]
View answerAn Interdepartmental Group (comprising officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is in place to support and accelerate the ongoing work in relation to planning in Gaeltacht areas. One of the key aims of this group is to ensure that procedures and systems will be tailored, as appropriate, to facilitate an effective and consistent approach by the relevant local authorities in managing planning related issues in Gaeltacht areas.
Separately, the Department convened a Working Group during summer 2021 to examine various aspects of the planning process in all Gaeltacht areas. Membership of this group is made up of representatives from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities. A second meeting of this group took place this in October 2022 and another meeting is envisaged in the near future once work has been finalised in the Interdepartmental Group.
The Interdepartmental Group has been examining how current arrangements could be strengthened in the overall interest of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht and in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development, underpinned by a policy being finalised by the Department Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This policy is critical to the finalisation of the Section 28 Guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht Areas, which my Department is in the process of preparing a draft for my review.
The Interdepartmental Group met on 15th December 2022 where it was agreed to commence, under the direction of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, a study in 2023 on the methodology and format of the Linguistic Impact Statement. This study was subsequently commissioned and commenced in February this year. A recent meeting of the Interdepartmental Group took place on 8th June 2023 to update progress of the consultant’s work so that it can be incorporated into the draft guidelines, and a further update on progress has recently been requested. It is intended to continue bilateral engagement in the coming weeks and hold a Working Group meeting when draft guidelines are nearing completion.
Once draft guidelines are finalised they must then be subject to screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). Subject to screening and a full SEA assessment not being required, it is intended that a draft of the guidelines will be published for public consultation.
385. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made on an application by Louth County Council for additional funding for the housing adaptation grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32808/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 99 of Wednesday 21 June 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
386. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department records the survival rates of hares after coursing; if their movements are tracked post release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32810/23]
View answerThe results of a new study comparing the survival, movements, home ranges and dispersal of hares after coursing and/or translocation were published recently by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS).
This publication, "Reid, N. (2023). Survival, movements, home ranges and dispersal of hares after coursing and/or translocation. Irish Wildlife Manuals , No. 145. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Ireland" is available at the following link:
www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM145.pdf
Hares are not tracked in the normal course of post release.
