Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am advised that the recruitment campaign for conservation rangers was advertised by the Public Appointments Service on 11 November 2016, on www.publicjobs.ie, and is open for applications until 1 December. It is anticipated that the first tranche of appointments - up to six in total - will be made from the newly formed panel during the first quarter of 2017. The successful candidates from this competition will be deployed throughout the country and will undertake the full range of duties associated with the role of ranger. Further appointments will be made from the panel, as required, subject to the required pay and other resources being in place. The panel will remain in existence until the end of February 2019. The competition is open to all members of the public.

As the hare coursing season for 2016-2017 extends from the end of September 2016 to the end of February 2017, the first tranche of additional conservation rangers may not be in situby the end of the hare coursing season. However, I am confident that the 64 rangers currently employed by my Department will be sufficient to meet the requirements arising in this area for the current season.

Issues relating to animal welfare are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

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