Hare Coursing Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019

Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Ceisteanna (536)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

536. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a pre-coursing report as per directive 1 of A Summary of Directives, Instructions and Guidance notes issued by the executive committee of the Irish Coursing Club and control stewards' report as per directive 11 were made following all regulated park and open coursing events that took place either under the terms of the netting licence or open season order during the 2018-2019 season; and if she will provide a list of all events for which reports were made and the reason if any that a particular report was not made. [41155/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts in August 2018 to the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2018/19 hare coursing season for parkland meetings. While there is no requirement to submit a pre-coursing report to my Department, the licences issued to the ICC provide for the submission by the ICC of a number of reports to my Department on individual coursing meetings. These returns comprise a report on the numbers, dates and locations where hares are captured and released back into the wild after a meeting, a report by the ICC Control Steward on the operation of the meeting and a report by the Veterinary Surgeon who attends the meeting.

The reports for the 2018/19 coursing season are published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.