Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hare Coursing.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

179 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of hares killed in each coursing event held in 2001 and in 2002 to date; the coursing meetings in which such kills took place; and if he has satisfied himself that the number of hare kills recorded are accurate. [9737/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The number of hares reported killed at coursing events in the calendar year 2001 amounted to 32. These kills were recorded at the following coursing meetings:

Abbeyfeale	3
Ardpatrick & Kilfinane	1
Borrisoleigh	1
Castleisland	4
Clonmel & Kilsheelan	2
Dundalk	2
Irish Cup Co. Kerry	1
Macroom & Millstreet	3
Millstreet	2
Nenagh	1
Rathcormac	1
Sevenhouses	4
Tralee	2
Tubbercurry/Ballymote/Kilcreevan	2
Thurles	2
Wexford & District	1

The number of hares reported killed in the calendar year 2002 to date at coursing events amounts to six. These kills were recorded at the following coursing meetings:

Galbally	2
Irish Cup Co. Kerry	2
National Meeting Clonmel	2

The above statistics have been provided by the Irish Coursing Club. Veterinary inspectors from my Department are present, for monitoring purposes, at roughly 10% of meetings. The veterinary inspectors also furnish reports, which include statistics of hares killed and injured and occasionally discrepancies are identified between the figures reported by the Irish Coursing Club and the veterinary inspectors. Statistics compiled from reports by Dúchas conservation rangers are received also from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. At the end of each coursing season, meetings are held with the Irish Coursing Club and with the Department of Arts Heritage, Culture and the Islands to discuss any issues arising from the previous season.