Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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523. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of licences that have been issued in the past ten years for the capture and killing of protected wild birds and animals for educational or scientific purposes; the species and numbers of birds and animals affected; the nature of the educational or scientific purposes; the method of capture; the number that were killed; the number that were released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30142/22]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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524. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to at least 320 birds, five seals, five hares and a rabbit that were among the animals used in experiments at in University College Cork in 2021; if they were captured from the wild; the method of capture; if licences were granted to allow same; if so, the conditions attached to the licences; the number of animals that were killed; if he has concerns that protected animals are being killed in experiments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30143/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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During 2021 the Wildlife Licencing Unit within the National Parks and Wildlife Services of my Department has issued licences to individuals associated or affiliated with University College Cork under various sections of the Wildlife Act 1976 to 2018.

Section 22(9)(a) & Section 23(6)(a) permits me, as Minister, to grant a licence to a person at any time to capture or humanely kill a protected wild bird and protected wild animal for educational, scientific or other purposes. Various methods of capture are listed on the licences such as shaped crook, snare with stopper attached to pole, purse nets and mist nets. My Department is not aware of any birds or animals being killed during the disturbance and capture by the individuals permitted to implement the conditions of the licence.

Section 32 permits me, as Minister, to grant a licence to a person to capture wild birds or animals for marking, tagging or ringing. Various methods of capture are listed on the licences such as mist nets, purse nets, crook, snares and by hand. These licences are for capture and release only and do not allow for the killing of any species. The licences were issued for educational and scientific purposes.