Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
106. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the findings of a NPWS study which revealed that coursed hares fared worse than uncoursed hares when released back to the wild (details supplied), and in view of majority support for a coursing ban in both rural and urban areas, he will refuse a 2023-24 licence for hare coursing. [28714/23]
View answerThe results of a new study comparing the survival, movements, home ranges and dispersal of hares after coursing and/or translocation has been published by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department, a copy of which can be accessed on the NPWS website at the following link: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM145.pdf.
Fewer coursed than uncoursed hares remained in the vicinity of the release site six months later, with more coursed hares appearing to move on during the study, although the motive factors remain unknown. There was no evidence that coursed and/or translocated hares suffered higher levels of mortality than control hares. There were no differences in coursed and uncoursed hares in their spatial behaviour after release.
Although this study has advanced our understanding of some aspects of hare survival and movements after coursing, questions remain.
My Department has received an application from the Irish Coursing Club for licences to capture and tag hares for the forthcoming 2023/24 hare coursing season. This is being considered at present, and a decision will be made on the application in due course.
