Departmental Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2017

Tuesday, 21 November 2017

Ceisteanna (293)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

293. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which her Department arrived at the decision to give a group (details supplied) the sole power to administer the hunter competence assessment programme; and if she has given consideration to tendering the administration of the contract at stages in view of the fact that the HCAP certification will be mandatory from January 2018. [48693/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I am aware that there is currently one national hunter competency course, the Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP), which is not administered by my Department. It is administered by the group referred to. However, it is my understanding that there are other organisations which are in the process of developing equivalent certification programmes and I welcome this development.