On behalf of Deer Alliance HCAP-Certified hunters who are Coillte licensees and permit holders and who have asked for advice in relation to Level 3 Covid 19 travel restrictions now in place and affecting county-to-county travel, Deer Alliance HCAP has proposed to Coillte Teoranta that they issue a letter to each licensee and permit holder confirming their status as providers of an essential service within the meaning of the list of exempt providers published by the Office of the Taoiseach in March 2020.

The text of the proposal sent to Coillte is set out below. A response is awaited.

EMAIL TO COILLTE TEORANTA INCLUDING BUSINESS AREA UNIT ADMINISTRATORS, SENT 9th OCTOBER 2020

Dear (Coillte named BAU Administrator/Forest Manager)

As you can imagine, current Level 3 Covid 19 travel restrictions are impacting negatively on some Coillte deer licensees and permit holders, unwilling or unable to visit their forest areas without possible breach of the current travel regulations.

On behalf of those HCAP-Certified licensees and permit holders who have asked for advice on this matter, Deer Alliance HCAP wish to propose to Coillte nationally and locally that they issue a letter to each licence and permit holder confirming that deer management and deer culling on Coillte forest property by authorised persons is a valid exempt essential service as an essential aid in the protection of forestry and other crops, including both Coillte forestry and surrounding farmland. Persons involved directly or indirectly in crop production and related activities are deemed providers of essential services under the terms of the list of essential service providers under public health guidelines published by the Office of the Taoiseach in march 2020.

Such a letter could then be exhibited by licensed hunters travelling beyond permitted boundaries (county to county) if challenged.

Otherwise licensees and permit holders will be severely curtailed in the exercise of their licences and in the achievement of designated culls.

Email confirmation to each licensee or permit holder would suffice.

We trust you will give this proposal early consideration and implementation.

Yours sincerely,

DEER ALLIANCE HCAP.