Wildlife Regulations

Tuesday, 8 October 2024

Questions (238)

Paul Murphy

Question:

238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of licences that have been issued in the past five years under Sections 23(6) of the Wildlife Act 1976 to ‘capture or kill humanely, or capture and humanely kill, a protected wild animal of a species specified in the licence for educational, scientific or other purposes as shall be so specified’; the species involved; and the nature of the related educational, scientific and other purposes. [39689/24]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The vast majority of licences issued under Section 23(6) are for activities relating to surveying and assessment of species, and thus are better categorised as capture and release. These activities include population counts, identification surveys, research and other such studies, but also works such as translocation of species in order to protect it from potential works such as flood relief schemes, road works etc. This licence does also allow for activities relating to predator control.

Table 1 outlines the number of licences issued under Section 23 of the Wildlife Act 1976 for each of the last five years. In total, 866 licences have issued since 2020 up to and including 30 September 2024.

Table 2 outlines the species of animal for which licences were issued over the last five years.

Table 1

YEAR	NUMBER OF LICENCES
2020	177
2021	167
2022	139
2023	198
2024 (Up to and including 30 September 2024)	185

Table 2

YEAR	Species for which licence issued
2020	White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Otter, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn. Grey seal , Harbour Seal, Common Lizard.
2021	White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn, Common Lizard, Tadpoles.
2022	White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn.
2023	White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Lizard, Frogspawn.
2024 (Up to and including 30 September 2024)	White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, European Eel, Three Spine Stickleback, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn.