Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Hare Coursing

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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243. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views that the RHD2 has been listed as one of the threats of highest importance to the hare species and that the NPWS previously said licensed hare coursing was a risk factor in the spread of RHD2 on nets and boxes given the evidence; if the licence will not be granted for hare coursing on both animal welfare and conservationist grounds also given that another threat listed is illegal poaching, which coursers facilitate by keeping hares in relative high density in preserves (details supplied). [34305/22]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the way coursing may be impacting on the conservationist status of the Irish hare and the trend in recent years for coursing clubs to extend their two day events to three days, to allow for re-coursing of hares in instances where an inadequate number have been netted by a club for its fixture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34306/22]

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will refuse to grant licenses for live hare coursing for the upcoming season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33628/22]

Photo of Joan CollinsJoan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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252. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will refuse the 2022-2023 coursing licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33640/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has received an application from the Irish Coursing Club for a licences to capture and tag hares for the forthcoming 2022/23 hare coursing season. This is being considered at present, and a decision will be made on the application in due course.

The Irish hare is protected under the Irish Wildlife Acts and can only be captured, tagged or killed under licence. The hare is also listed on Annex V of EU Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) and this listing requires member states to manage the hare sustainably. The Habitats Directive also requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the hare. Ireland’s most recent report in 2019 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be downloaded at www.npws.ie/publications/article-17-reports/article-17-reports-2019.

The 2019 report states that the hare is widespread and common in Ireland with a broad habitat; it is found throughout the country from coastal habitats to upland heath and bog. The report does highlight some concerns about the loss of habitat quality due to agricultural intensification and afforestation, but overall the species was considered to be in favourable conservation status.

Following initial concerns about the potential impact of RHD2 on the Irish hare after the disease was first reported in the wild in Ireland, the number of records declined significantly. Only two positive records were recorded in 2021 - one hare and one rabbit - and one rabbit in 2022. Nonetheless the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, together with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, are continuing to monitor for RHD2 in the wild in Ireland.

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