asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of prosecutions brought by his Department against people detected in the trapping of wildlife with gin traps in the last year.
115.
Written Answers. - Illegal Gin Trap.
114.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the steps which his Department are taking to prevent the use of illegal gin traps for trapping foxes.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose taking Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
To date this year no prosecutions have been instigated by my Department arising from the use of illegal gin traps.
With a view to better enforcement of the Wildlife Act, including control of illegal methods of trapping wildlife, I have recently appointed more than 500 members of my forest and wildlife field staff as authorised persons under the Act to cope with matters arising within State forest properties. Additionally arrangements are well advanced for the recruitment of some 60 wildlife rangers to enforce the provisions of the Act elsewere.