Mr. Fergus Healy:

To give a breakdown of the 200,000 guns held, approximately 145,000 are shotguns, while approximately 70,000 are rifles. We can provide the committee with a breakdown on a county by county basis. However, there is a higher rate of licensing of shotguns and rifles in the midlands. If one draws a line down the middle of the country and looks at licensing and gun based activities in the State, there is a higher density of shotguns and rifles in the midlands than in any other part of the country. That may be due to it being a larger land mass and more people being involved in recreational shooting. There is a significant firing range in Tullamore, which is probably one of the most expert ranges in the country. A greater proportion of people are licensed in these particular areas, but we can provide the committee with a county by county list.