Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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78. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to ensure that particular emphasis is provided to inspections to ensure all guidelines are being followed at hare coursing events in view of the shortage of hares to date and the fact that many coursing clubs are under pressure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47904/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Where resources allow, local National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) conservation rangers and staff attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated clubs.

During the 2016/17 coursing season, conservation rangers attended seventeen coursing meetings and the same number of meetings was monitored during the 2015/16 season. While my Department does not have resources to provide 100% attendance at coursing meetings it endeavours to attend as many meetings as possible having regard to the various calls on its staffing complement. It is my intention that a greater number of coursing events will be monitored in the 2017/18 season than in the previous season.