Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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578. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the monitoring that has been carried out in respect of the Irish hare in the past ten years since the survey of 2006-07; the reports her Department has made to the European Commission in the same period regarding the population status of the Irish hare; the summary conclusions these included regarding the species' health; if this report will be brought before Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45912/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The EU Habitats Directive requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the hare. Ireland’s last report in 2013 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be downloaded at . The next report is due in 2019.

The 2013 report stated that the Hare is found throughout the country from coastal habitats to upland heath and bog. Hares in Ireland are more abundant in lowland, farmland habitat, while upland areas support lower densities of the species. As a result, changes in agricultural practice can have a significant impact on hare populations.

The hare is widespread and common in Ireland with a broad habitat niche. None of the identified threats are considered likely to impact on its conservation status in the foreseeable future and the Overall Status is assessed as Favourable.

Data on the distribution of the hare is being collected continuously by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the recent Atlas of Mammals in Ireland 2010-2015 provided a summary of the species’ range, demonstrating that it remains widespread across the country.

My Department recently commissioned a new assessment of the status of hare’s population in Ireland. The survey work to inform this population assessment will extend over two years to provide for a comprehensive review of the national situation. The first round of surveys will begin in December 2017, with a second survey season to follow in winter 2018/19. The final report is due in July 2019.