Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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485. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the national coursing meeting in Clonmel, County Tipperary on 2, 3 and 4 February, was monitored by the NPWS; similarly for the Irish Cup in Limerick on 22, 23 and 24 February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27280/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958.

My Department issues licences to the Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated clubs to net and capture hares under the Wildlife Acts. Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with conditions on the licences granted by my Department. During the most recent 2012/13 coursing season, over 50% of the meetings held by the Irish Coursing Club were monitored by my Department. Neither of the two meetings identified by the Deputy were attended by my Department although a pre-coursing inspection was carried out at the Limerick meeting on 22 February.