Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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110. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the attention of NPWS officials has been drawn to suspected cases of badger baiting in the past 12 months; if so, the details of those cases; and the outcome of investigations. [27348/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Officials of my Department monitor compliance with the Wildlife Acts across the country on an on-going basis and carry out patrols and site visits to enforce the various provisions of these Acts, as required. Many of these officers carry out work in more than one county. They also investigate reports of breaches of the Acts including illegal snaring or “digging out” of badgers etc., with a view to initiating prosecutions where there is sufficient evidence to support same. Members of An Garda Síochána are also empowered under the Acts to investigate alleged offences and to prosecute if they see fit. No prosecutions have been initiated by the NPWS in respect of badger-related wildlife offences in the last year. The last prosecution on record in my Department dates to September 2015, when the individual concerned pleaded guilty to two charges.