Hare Coursing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Questions (395, 409, 410, 411, 412)

Paul Murphy

Question:

395. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of correspondence his office has received on behalf of an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the upcoming decision on whether to grant licences for hare coursing or not for the 2023-24 season; if he will agree to the organisation's request for a meeting to discuss concerns before he reaches a decision, including a representative from two further entities at this proposed meeting, if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33898/23]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

409. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the number of pregnant females released on a club-by-club basis for the coursing seasons 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34172/23]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

410. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will suspend the issuing of licences for the purpose of hare coursing until he conducts an examination of whether it is possible for a hare coursing club to adhere to conditions within its licence which specifies that no pregnant hares may be taken, with specific reference to the practicalities of determining pregnancy in the absence of specialist veterinary equipment and expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34173/23]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

411. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of hares captured on an annual basis in each of the past ten years; the number of those that were identified as female; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34174/23]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

412. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for licences under section 34 that have been received by his Department for the upcoming coursing season; when he expects a decision will be made on the issue of those licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34175/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 409 to 412, inclusive, together.

My Department has received one application from the Irish Coursing Club for a licence under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act, as amended, to capture hares for the forthcoming 2023/24 hare coursing season. This is being considered at present, and a decision will be made on the application in due course.

Requests for meetings received through my Office are acknowledged and dealt with as time and capacity allows.

My Department does not hold figures relating to numbers of pregnant hares released, and neither are figures held in relation to numbers of male / female hares captured and released. During the 2022/23 season, NPWS Officials monitored some or all elements of 50% of the coursing meetings held and hares are regularly examined as part of this process.

I can provide figures in relation to overall numbers of hares netted and released over the past 10 years, please see the table below:

	Hares Netted	Hares Released
2013/14	5,812	5,777
2014/15	5,644	5,615
2015/16	5,348	5,312
2016/17	5,207	5,181
2017/18	5,044	5,017
2018/19	4,973	4,941
2019/20	2,920	2,907
2020/21	3,430	3,429
2021/22	3,690	3,672
2022/23	3,398	3,385