Pat Upton
Ceist:106 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of tourist shoot promoters given gun days in the 1993-1994 season; and if he will give a breakdown of the promoters by county. [1016/95]
Written Answers. - Gun Days Allocations.
Pat Upton
Ceist:108 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the total number of gun days allocated to tourist shoot promoters in the 1993-1994 season. [1018/95]
Pat Upton
Ceist:109 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of tourist shoot promoters who were given gun days in the 1993-1994 season in view of the fact that only 12 tourist shoot promoters submitted maps; and the reason other shoot promoters were given gun days contrary to the commitment given by the Office of Public Works. [1019/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 108 and 109 together.
I refer the Deputy to the reply given to Questions Nos. 82, 83, 84, 87 and 88 on 31 May 1994 — columns 779-781 — of the Official Report in relation to these matters.
I understand that a total of 59 shoot promoters were given gun-day allocations in the 1993-94 season. A breakdown by county, based on promoters' addresses, is as follows:
|
Carlow |
2 |
|
Clare |
6 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Galway |
5 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Mayo |
11 |
|
Meath |
4 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
|
Tipperary |
5 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
A total of 7,365 gun-days were allocated to shoot promoters for the 1993-94 season. This includes all types of hunting, i.e. summer pigeon (over grain/crops etc.) estate driven shoots of mainly pen-reared birds (pheasant and duck) and rough shooting (other game species).
Maps are requested to assist in identifying lands to enable the gun-day carrying capacity of the lands to be assessed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). However, in most cases such lands are well known and established or are covered by Coillte leases which are usually sufficient also to identify lands. I will look further into this matter when I have had time to consider the issues more fully.
Based on the controls operated and bag checks conducted by the NPWS Rangers. I am satisfied that current levels of commercial shooting do not adversely impact on the conservation status of huntable species.