Vol. 551 No. 2
388 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of hare kills recorded by Dúchas rangers in coursing meetings attended by them during 2001 and in 2002 to date; the meetings in which such kills took place; and if she has satisfied herself that the number of kills recorded are accurate. [9760/02]
The Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, provides for the regulation of coursing by greyhounds and designates the Irish Coursing Club as the controlling body for the breeding and coursing of greyhounds, subject to the control and direction of Bord na gCon. This Act is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. However, licences are issued by me under sections 32 and 34 of the Wildlife Acts, 1976 and 2000, which enables the Irish Coursing Club and their affiliated clubs to net and earmark hares which are a protected species under the Wildlife Acts. Conservation rangers attached to my Department carry out spot checks on a number of coursing club meetings to ensure that the terms and conditions attached to the licences are adhered to.
The number of hare kills recorded by Dúchas conservation rangers at 45 coursing meetings attended for the 2000-01 season was 49. The equivalent figure at 40 coursing meetings attended for the 2001-02 season was 31. As requested by the Deputy, the number of kills recorded for each of the two seasons, and the number of kills recorded at each meeting, are set out in the following tables.
In relation to the data actually recorded by Dúchas conservation rangers, I am satisfied the data is recorded on a bona fide basis and reflects the information available to the ranger in attendance at the time. At the end of each season a table of data, including kills, is prepared and copies are provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and to the Irish Coursing Club for information. Meetings are also held each year with these parties to review the coursing season and to discuss any issues which may arise from this data.
While every effort is made to ensure that all data recorded is accurate, discrepancies may occasionally be identified. Where a possible discrepancy arises, it is clarified with the relevant conservation ranger and the data is adjusted if necessary.
|
Meeting |
Number |
|
Abbeyfeale |
2 |
|
Abbydorney |
2 |
|
Rathkeale |
1 |
|
Tralee |
1 |
|
Doon |
2 |
|
Bandon |
4 |
|
Clarina |
2 |
|
Limerick City |
1 |
|
Ballyduff |
1 |
|
Kilimer-Kilrush |
1 |
|
Cloncullen |
6 |
|
Killmaley |
1 |
|
Miltownmalbay |
1 |
|
Loughrea |
1 |
|
Borrisinossory |
2 |
|
Tubbertelly, Tubbercurry |
2 |
|
Ballinabola, Co. Wexford |
2 |
|
Seven Houses Co. Kilkenny |
6 |
|
Edenderry |
2 |
|
Ballinagar |
2 |
|
Westmeath United |
3 |
|
Rathdowney |
3 |
|
Tralee |
1 |
|
Total |
49 |
|
Meeting |
Number |
|
Tubbertelly, Tubbercurry |
7 |
|
Castleisland |
4 |
|
Kilsheelan |
2 |
|
Ballinaboola New Ross |
2 |
|
Abbeyfeale |
1 |
|
Tralee |
2 |
|
Blarney |
1 |
|
Enniscorthy |
5 |
|
Millstreet Coursing at Castleisland |
3 |
|
Clonmel |
2 |
|
Tralee Cup |
2 |
|
Total |
31 |
