Applications are now open for the last of the 2021 Series of HCAP Training Workshops & MCQs, taking place on Saturday 18th September 2021 at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Co. Carlow, R93 N207, running from (start time) 10.00 a.m. to (end time) 5.00 p.m.

The supporting Range Test (Stage 2 of the HCAP Assessment and Certification process) will take place on the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday 2nd October 2021.

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NOW CLOSED (AS OF 15.9.2021)

NPWS ACCREDITED & APPROVED

HCAP is approved by National Parks & Wildlife Service for the purposes of mandatory certification for all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence, which applies from next year 2022.

Application can be made online through the Online Applications of the website home page at www.deeralliance.ie, cost €165.00. Compliant with the syllabus agreed with NPWS, 30 hours self-study of the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual is required in advance of the Workshop and MCQ. The Manual can be purchased through the Online Applications section of the website, cost €35.00 including p. & p.

HCAP is the only such course available in Ireland developed in partnership with NPWS, Coillte, An Garda Síochána, IFA and the relevant deer organisations and has led the way in training and certification of licensed deer hunters in Ireland since it was commenced in 2005 following two years of careful development. Now in its eighteenth year of operation, over 3500 licensed deer hunters have participated in HCAP, all contributing to safe, humane and efficient control and management of wild deer throughout Ireland.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

The following candidates are eligible for this Workshop & MCQ. This list includes candidates having deferred from previous dates in 2020 and 2021 due to clash of dates and for other reasons. Such candidates who miss this date without notice to Deer Alliance HCAP may be de-listed as eligible candidates and will have to re-enter the process as Repeat Candidates (Repeat Fee €50.00) if they wish to complete the training and certification process.

ARMSTRONG, Robert
BEWICK, Stuart
CHRISTIAN, Vadim
CORR, Francis
CULBERT, Trevor
FOLEY, Ian
GORSKI, Darius
HANNON, Colm
HAMILL, Michael
HARMAN, Luke
HARVEY, Brendan
HARVEY, Stephen
HENDERSON, Simon
HENRY/Michael
JORDAN, Brendan
JORDAN, Nickie
KAMINSKI, Marius
KELLY, Joe
KENDELLEN, Barry
KENNY, Alan
LAMBERT, John
LAWLER, Ian
LAWLOR, Jonah
LAZZARI, Tojo
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward
McELDUFF, Kevin
MERRIGAN, Ian
MURPHY, Alan
MURPHY, James
MURPHY, Paddy
MURPHY, Patrick
PAILLARD, Etienne
THOMPSON, Tom
REDMOND, Patrick
SCANLON, Callum
SMITH, Gregory
SZULIK, Adam
WALKER, Ian
WHELAN, Sean

This list will be updated as applications are received. Last update 15.9.2021

TRAINING SYLLABUS

The following is the HCAP Training Syllabus agreed with NPWS for purposes of mandatory certification for first-time applicants for the DHL, effective from 2022.

BASIC DEER BIOLOGY
• Species recognition, species distribution (Red, Sika, Fallow, Muntjac)
• Species habits & habitat (Red, Sika, Fallow, Muntjac)
• Life cycle of deer
• The Rut
• Pregnancy and birth
• Vocalisation, hearing, powers of scent
• Antler growth
• Aging deer & tooth eruption and wear
• Coat change and colouration
• Scent glands – identification, use and purpose

PRINCIPLES OF DEER MANAGEMENT
• Aims and objectives
• Current problems facing deer in Ireland
• Methods of population assessment
• Breeding capacity and size of cull
• Planning the cull; cull selection
• Shooting calendar & shooting plan
• Record keeping
• PR

DEER IMPACTS
• Impacts of Deer on forestry, Agriculture and Nature Conservation
• Habitats – damage recognition and damage limitation.

DEER HUNTING & THE LAW
• Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended)
• Relevant Regulations and SIs under the Wildlife Act
• Relevant Sections of Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations
• Coillte licence requirements & regulations
• Firearms legislation 1925 – 2000
• Control of Dogs Act 1986
• Occupiers Liability Act 1995

FIREARMS SAFETY AND OTHER HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
• Safe storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition including
legal requirements and Hunting Area Risk Assessment
• Background to shot
• Loading & unloading
• Negotiating obstacles
• Barrel obstructions & misfires
• Shooting positions
• Non-Firearms risks, knives, dragging carcasses, terrain issues, weather

FIREARMS, BALLISTICS AND ZEROING
• Choice of rifle and ammunition
• Ballistics (internal, external, terminal)
• Rifle Care, cleaning and maintenance
• ‘Scope mounts, slings, bipods etc.
• Zeroing your rifle

CARCASS HANDLING & DISEASE RECOGNITION
• Bleeding & evisceration
• Carcass examination & disease recognition including Anthrax,
Bluetongue, Bovine Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Foot & Mouth Disease,
Warble Fly Infestation
• Notifiable diseases
• Game Meat Directive and other food meat legislation relevant to deer
• Carcass preparation, venison joints etc.

DEER STALKING AIDS AND TECHNIQUES
• Use of High Seat
• Binoculars and other optics
• Fieldcraft
• Clothing
• Knives
• Use of Dogs
• Aiming Points
• Reaction to the shot
• Dealing with a wounded animal
• Sporting rights etc.

HCAP HUNTER COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME
IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK, REGISTRATION NUMBER 263335.
DEER ALLIANCE HCAP IS A REGISTERED BUSINESS NAME, REGISTRATION NUMBER 619892

Brendan Earley with father & son team, Robbie & Connor Dixon

Brothers, Mervyn & Ivan Kenehan

Brothers, Rees & Jordan Broaders

The candidates listed below all completed their Deer Alliance Hunter Competence Assessment Programme with a Range Test at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore on Saturday 7th August 2021. The Range Test took place in sometimes difficult weather conditions, with sunny spells interspersed with heavy showers, in spite of which candidates demonstrated a high standard of marksmanship. Thanks go to the Midland Range management and personnel, including J. P. Craven and Tony Saunders, and to Deer Alliance Range Officers Pat Scully and John Manley. Successful candidates received their HCAP Certificates, ID cards and badges from Liam Nolan, Director of Deer Alliance HCAP.

New HCAP-Certified Candidates (date of certification 7th August 2021):

BABINGTON, Robert, 2021/0015
BERGIN, Patrick, 2021/0002
BROADERS, Jordan, 2021/0042
BROADERS, Rees, 2021/0039
BYRNE, Tommy, 2021/0003
CANAVAN, Ian, 2020/0055
CANTWELL, Ted, 2021/0020
CHURCH, Glynn, 2021/0043
COLE, Anthony, 2021/0054
COLOHAN, Donal, 2021/0013
CORBETT, Burke, 2021/0037
CORCORAN, Jamie, 2021/0048
COTTER, Willie, 2021/0028
DIXON, Connor, 2021/0035
DIXON, Robbie, 2021/0034
DOWLING, Mark, 2021/0014
DOYLE, Anthony, 2021/0031
EARLEY, Brendan, 2021/0036
GATELY, Leo, 2021/0029
GRAHAM, Wesley, 2021/0044
HEALY, David, 2021/0009
HUNT, William, 2020/0049
KEAVENEY, Garry, 2020/0054
KENEHAN, Ivan, 2021/0045
KENEHAN, Mervyn, 2021/0046
LEAMY, Maurice, 2021/0055
McALEVEY, Norman, 2021/0032
McGRATH, Donie, 2021/0053
MURPHY, Michael, 2021/0047
O’BRIEN, John, 2021/0030
O’CONNOR, Dean, 2021/0004
O’FLYNN, Declan, 2021/0022
OLIVER, Mark, 2021/0056
O’TOOLE, Geoffrey, 2021/0033
QI Zhang, 2021/0052
REGAN, Patrick, 2021/0051
ROGERS, Shane, 2021/0019,
STYNES, Christian, 2021/0010
TREACHER, Nathan, 2021/0021
TYLICKI, Marcin, 2021/0041
WALSH, Liam, 2021/0028
WATSON, Christopher, 2021/0008
WEYRES, Juergen, 2021/0017
WILKINSON, Thomas, 2021/0040
YANG Li, 2021/0057

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES FROM THE TEAM AT DEER ALLIANCE HCAP

Willie Cotter & Patrick Regan

Geoffrey O’Toole

Yang Li

Range Test Candidates are reminded of the importance of ensuring that their firearms are properly zeroed in advance.

The Range Test for HCAP Candidates having successfully completed their MCQs on 17th July 2021 and on 31st July 2021 and in some cases, on previous dates, will take place on Saturday 7th August 2021 at the Midland National Shooting Centre, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly R35 NC58, commencing at 10.00 a.m. sharp.

The list includes candidates eligible for the Range Test following qualification at previous MCQs but having deferred their Range Test on previous occasions. Such candidates are reminded that if having deferred two or more Range Tests, they miss the Range Test on 7th August 2021 they will be de-listed as eligible and may complete their HCAP only by re-entering for the Range Test stage and paying a Repeat Fee of €50.00.

Candidates should be present from 9.30 a.m. in order to sign in and to exhibit their current Firearms Certificate and evidence of insurance.

Procedures to be followed at each Range Test are posted separately.

ELIGIBLE RANGE TEST CANDIDATES

BABINGTON, Robert
BEHAN, Conor
BERGIN, Patrick
BROADERS, Jordan
BROADERS, Rees
BYRNE, Tommy
CANAVAN, Ian
CANTWELL, Ted
CHURCH, Glynn
COLE, Anthony
COLOHAN, Donal
CONWAY, Kieran
COOKE, Declan
COOKE, Eamonn
CORBETT, Burke
CORCORAN, Jamie
COTTER, Willie
DIXON, Connor
DIXON, Robbie
DOWLING, Mark
DOYLE, Anthony
EARLEY, Brendan
GATELY, Leo
GRAHAM, Wesley
HEALY, David
HUNT, William
KEAVENEY, Garry
KENEHAN, Ivan
KENEHAN, Mervyn
LEAMY, Maurice
LEAVY, Niall
McALEVEY, Norman
McGRATH, Donie
MURPHY, Michael
O’BRIEN, John
O’CONNOR, Dean
O’FLYNN, Declan
O’FLYNN, Sean
OLIVER, Mark
O’NEILL, Simon
O’TOOLE, Geoffrey
QI Zhang
REGAN, Patrick
ROGERS, Shane
STYNES, Christian
TREACHER, Nathan
TYLICKI, Marcin
WALSH, Liam
WATSON, Christopher
WEYRES, Juergen
WILKINSON, Thomas
YANG Li

All successful candidates will receive the HCAP Certificate of Competence, Deer Alliance HCAP ID Card and Deer Alliance HCAP Badge.

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Carlow on Saturday 31st July 2021and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 7th August 2021.

Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately shortly.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 31st July 2021 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ, except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice.

2021/0012, 94%, Pass
2021/0003, 98%, Pass
2021/0043, 96%, Pass
2021/0054, 94%, Pass
2021/0049, 98%, Pass
2021/0048, 96%, Pass
2021/0028, 96%, Pass
2021/0044, 90%, Pass
2021/0009, 98%, Pass
2021/0045, 96%, Pass
2021/0046, 96%, Pass
2021/0055, 98%, Pass
2021/0007, 94%, Pass
2021/0053, 96%, Pass
2021/0047, 82%, Pass
2021/0022, 92%, Pass
2021/0056,98%, Pass
2021/0051, 94%, Pass
2021/0021, 96%, Pass
2021/0052, 80%, Pass
2021/0057, 80%, Pass

On this occasion all participating candidates passed.

The following candidates (HCAP numbers, followed by mark achieved) were successful in the HCAP MCQ held in Carlow on Saturday 17th July 2021 and are eligible to participate in the HCAP Range Test to be held at the Midlands Range on Saturday 7th August 2021.

Procedures for Range Tests will be posted here separately shortly.

Candidates who were Deferrals or No-Shows at this MCQ on 17th July 2021 will be carried forward to the next scheduled MCQ, to be held on Saturday 31st July 2021, except where they have missed two or more MCQs without notice.

2020/0056, 96%, Pass
2021/0027, 96%, Pass
2021/0026, 96%, Pass
2021/0033, 94%, Pass
2021/0019, 92%, Pass
2021/0010, 92%, Pass
2021/0041, 90%, Pass
2021/0028, 92%, Pass
2021/0008 94%, Pass
2021/0017, 90%, Pass
2021/0040, 90%, Pass
2021/0037, 92%, Pass
2021/0035, 86%, Pass
2021/0034, 94%, Pass
2021/0014, 94%, Pass
2021/0031, 96%, Pass
2021/0036, 92%, Pass
2021/0029, 86%, Pass
2021/0032, 86%, Pass
2021/0030, 92%, Pass
2021/0004, 90%, Pass
2021/0015, 92%, Pass
2021/0002, 92%, Pass
2021/0042, 94%, Pass
2021/0039, 94%, Pass
2021/0020, 94%, Pass
2021/0013, 92%, Pass
2021/0005, 98%, Pass

On this occasion all participating candidates passed. Congratulations to all, we look forward to completion of the HCAP Certification process following the Range Test on 7th August 2021.

Applications are now open for a HCAP Training Workshop & MCQ taking place on Saturday 31st July 2021 at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, R93 N207, 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This will be followed by the supporting Range Test on Saturday 7th August 2021, to be held at the Midland Range, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 NC58.

Places will be limited to fifty candidates in compliance with Covid-related restrictions and early application is recommended.

This date is in addition to the event taking place on 17th July 2021, applications for which closed on 17th June 2021 and which is fully subscribed.

Applications can be made online from the Home Page on the Deer Alliance website, www.deeralliance.ie.

Members of IFA Countryside can avail of a special offer which is subsidised by IFA Farm Business Skillnet, for more information click HERE.

In line with the jointly-agreed Deer Alliance and NPWS Syllabus for training and certification in advance of mandatory certification for all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence, attendance at the Training Workshop is no longer optional but it must be attended by all candidates. The agreed Syllabus, approved by NPWS, requires that face-to-face training be at least one day long (excluding the Range Test). The MCQ itself will run from 4.00 p.m. (one hour).

Thirty hours self-study of the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual is required in advance of the MCQ, in line with the syllabus for training agreed with NPWS. The Manual is available for purchase through the Online Applications Section of the website, cost €35.00.

HCAP is the longest established training programme for Irish deer stalkers (established in 2003 and providing training, assessment and certification since 2005), developed in partnership with all key stakeholders including Coillte Teoranta, National Parks & Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána, Irish Farmers’ Association and deer bodies including the Irish Deer Society and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland. HCAP is approved by NPWS for the purpose of mandatory certification for first-time applicants for the Deer Hunting Licence (DHL), and accepted as evidence of competence for the purpose of firearms certificate applications by An Garda Síochána.

In particular, HCAP complies with the NPWS requirement that all interactive face-to-face training should occupy not less than one full day (excluding the Range Test, which is a test of marksmanship and not a training environment).

To date, over 3500 Irish hunters have been processed by HCAP.

LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES, 31st JULY 2021

NOTE: This List includes a number of candidates who have been No-Shows at previous MCQs, without notice to Deer Alliance HCAP. These candidates cannot be carried forward indefinitely and may be de-listed as eligible if they miss another date without notice to Deer Alliance HCAP. In such cases they can only r-enter the process subject to the standard Repeat Fee of €50.00.

ARMSTRONG, Robert
BEHAN, Conor
BEWICK, Stuart
BYRNE, Tommy
CHURCH, Glynn
CONWAY, Kieran
COLE, Anthony
CORCORAN, Jamie
CORR, Francis
COTTER, Willie
CULBERT, Trevor
DEDAJ, Kristian
FOLEY, Ian
GRAHAM, Wesley
HANNON, Colm
HAMILL, Michael
HARMAN, Luke
HARVEY, Brendan
HARVEY, Stephen
HEALY, David
HENDERSON, Simon
HUTCHINSON, Robert
KELLY, Joe
KENDELLEN, Barry
KENEHAN, Ivan
KENEHAN, Mervyn
KENNY, Alan
LARKIN, Andrea
LAWLER, Ian
LAZZARI, Tojo
LEAMY, Maurice
LEAVY, Niall
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward
McGRATH, Donie
MERRIGAN, Ian
MURPHY, Jam
MURPHY, Michael
MURPHY, Paddy
MURPHY, Patrick
O’CALLAGHAN, Michael
O’FLYNN, Declan
OLIVER, Mark
PAILLARD, Etienne
THOMPSON, Tom
REDMOND, Patrick
REGAN, Patrick
SCANLON, Callum
TREACHER, Nathan
QI Zhang
WALKER, Ian
YANG Li

This list will be updated as applications are received. Last update, 27.7.2021

1st July 2021

CONFIRMATION OF HCAP EVENT ON SATURDAY 17th JULY 2021

We are pleased to confirm that our next scheduled HCAP Training Workshop and MCQ will, as previously announced, take place on Saturday 17th July 2021 at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, R93 N207, commencing 10.00 a.m. sharp.

Attendance will be limited to 50 persons, grouped in pods of 6, spaced in line with public health recommendations. Masks should be worn by all candidates.

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NOW CLOSED, AS OF 27th JUNE 2021. 

In line with the jointly-agreed Deer Alliance and NPWS Syllabus for training and certification in advance of mandatory certification for all first-time applicants for a Deer Hunting Licence, attendance at the Training Workshop is no longer optional but it must be attended by all candidates. The agreed Syllabus, approved by NPWS, requires that face-to-face training be at least one day long (excluding the Range Test). The MCQ itself will run from 4.00 p.m. (one hour).

Thirty hours self-study of the Deer Alliance Stalker Training Manual is required in advance of the MCQ, in line with the syllabus for training agreed with NPWS. The Manual is available for purchase through the Online Applications Section of the website, cost €35.00.

HCAP is the longest established training programme for Irish deer stalkers (established in 2003 and providing training, assessment and certification since 2005), developed in partnership with all key stakeholders including Coillte Teoranta, National Parks & Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána, Irish Farmers’ Association and deer bodies including the Irish Deer Society and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland. HCAP is approved by NPWS for the purpose of mandatory certification for first-time applicants for the Deer Hunting Licence (DHL), and accepted as evidence of competence for the purpose of firearms certificate applications by An Garda Síochána.

In particular, HCAP complies with the NPWS requirement that all interactive face-to-face training should occupy not less than one full day (excluding the Range Test, which is a test of marksmanship and is not a training environment).

To date, over 3500 Irish hunters have been processed by HCAP.

See below for a list of those candidates currently eligible to participate in this training and assessment date on 17th July 2021.

The list includes all confirmed (paid) applications received since our last MCQ and Range Test in 2020.

Some previous candidates have been de-listed as eligible due to repeated non-attendance at scheduled MCQs in 2019 and 2020. Such candidates can re-apply for assessment and certification, subject to the standard Repeat Fee of €50.00.

The Range Test for successful candidates from this MCQ will take place at the Midland Range (MNSCI), Blue Ball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly,  R35 NC58, on Saturday 7th August 2021 commencing at 10.00 a.m. sharp.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES

ARMSTRONG, Robert
BABBINGTON, Robert
BEHAN, Conor
BERGIN, Patrick
BEWICK, Stuart
BROADERS, Jordan
BROADERS, Rees
BYRNE, Tommy
CANTWELL, Ted
COLOHAN, Donal
COOKE, Declan
COOKE, Eamonn
CORBETT, Burke
CORR, Francis
COTTER, Willie
CULBERT, Trevor
DEDAJ, Kristian
DIXON, Connor
DIXON, Robbie
DOWLING, Mark
DOYLE, Anthony
EARLEY, Brendan
FOLEY, Ian
GATELY, Leo
HANNON, Colm
HAMILL, Michael
HARMAN, Luke
HARVEY, Brendan
HARVEY, Stephen
HEALY, David
HENDERSON, Simon
HUTCHINSON, Robert
KELLY, Joe
KENNY, Alan
KENDELLEN, Barry
LARKIN, Andrea
LAWLER, Ian
LAZZARI, Tojo
LEAVY, Niall
MANNINGHAM-BULLER, Edward
McALEVEY, Norman
MERRIGAN, Ian
MURPHY, James
MURPHY, Paddy
MURPHY, Patrick
O’BRIEN, John
O’CALLAGHAN, Michael
O’CONNOR, Dean
O’FLYNN, Declan
O’FLYNN, Sean
O’NEILL, Simon
O’TOOLE, Geoffrey
PAILLARD, Etienne
REDMOND, Patrick
ROGERS, Shane
SCANLON, Callum
STYNES, Christopher
TREACHER, Nathan
TYLICKI, Marcin
WALKER, Ian
WALSH, Liam
WATSON, Christopher
WEYRES, Juergen
WILKINSON, Thomas

CANDIDATES WHO ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON 17th JULY 2021 WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED DATE (TBC) AFTER 17th JULY PROVIDED THEY NOTIFY DEER ALLIANCE HCAP IN ADVANCE.

This list will be updated as applications are received. Last update 2.7.2021.

Do you come in contact with Deer?

If so, this information meeting is for you! Learn all about Smartdeer; a UCD initiative.

Wednesday 30th June 2021, 7pm.

If interested, email: countryside@ifa.ie

We will then send you the details of how to join the meeting.

You can also speak to Barbara in the IFA Countryside Office on 01 4260368 or 1890 924 982

Closer working relationships on the very serious issue of wildlife crime have been established between An Garda Siochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Yesterday, Wednesday June 23, the Minister for Housing, Local Government & Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Heritage & Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD and the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Drew Harris, launched and signed a Protocol between the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and An Garda Síochána (AGS) on tackling wildlife crime. This Protocol was developed to establish closer working relationships between both organisations.

This Protocol came about following the National Biodiversity Conference in Dublin in 2019 as one of the “Seeds for Nature”. Informal relationships already existed between authorised officers under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 of both NPWS & AGS and this protocol will build on that to provide for enhanced and nationwide working relationships especially in the areas of communications, intelligence sharing and joint operations.

On the launch of the Protocol Minister O’Brien said: “We committed in our programme for government to reviewing the protection of our natural heritage. The Protocol announced here today is an important step towards strengthening that protection. I wholeheartedly welcome it and commend those behind this initiative.”

Heritage Minister Noonan welcomed the signing of this Protocol. “To effectively deal with wildlife crime in this country, robust and strategic cooperation between the NPWS and An Garda Síochána is critically important. This Protocol marks a significant step towards that by progressing the communication channels, information sharing and joint operations that are so urgently needed. There have been a number of devastating wildlife crimes in recent years, including the shooting dead and poisoning of birds of prey, poaching, wild fires and the persecution of badgers, and they need to be tackled head on. This Protocol will go a long way towards achieving that, in tandem with the new Wildlife Crime Unit that is currently being established within the NPWS. I’m delighted to see this important work coming to fruition and would like to thank An Garda Síochána for their engagement and collaboration with NPWS on this issue.”

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “The establishment of the Joint Protocol is another significant step in our ongoing efforts to work closely with all of our stakeholders. I am very aware of the impact that wildlife crime can have on our communities, particularly in rural areas, and the Protocol now provides for each Garda Division to appoint a dedicated Liaison Inspector to work alongside their respective District Conservation Officers in the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I am confident that the signing of the Joint Protocol will facilitate a strategic working relationship, establish clearer lines of communication, intelligence sharing and participation in joint planned operations between An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This will help in our ongoing efforts to prevent and detect wildlife crime and thus protect our precious natural diversity.”

“Wildlife Crimes” are offences against laws which protect wild plants, animals and habitats. Amongst the most important of these laws are the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2018 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. Both the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Minister with responsibility for nature conservation may bring prosecutions for such offences. The latter is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of the Heritage Division of that Department.

Members of An Garda Síochána (AGS) and authorised officers of the NPWS are empowered to investigate suspected wildlife offences and bring proposals for prosecution. For this reason, AGS and NPWS have often engaged with one another when investigating wildlife offences. In the main, such engagement has been informal and conducted at local level. This new Protocol formalises this relationship and provides for structured co-operation at national, regional and local levels, throughout the State. Not only will this serve to “de-conflict” situations where simultaneous investigations by both organisations might be ongoing (thereby ensuring that “the left hand knows what the right hand is doing”) but it is expected to bring significant synergy to wildlife law enforcement in Ireland.

Wild boar pictured in Kerry. Photograph: Radio Kerry

The Irish Times today 16th June 2021 carries reports of a large male boar running wild in Kerry. According to the report, six of seven of the alien species were ‘dispatched humanely’ but one remains on the loose, says wildlife service.

Members of the public in Kerry are asked to report any sightings of a large male boar running wild in the Mount Eagle area and not to approach the animal.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has moved quickly to capture a number of the animals, now an alien species, after a report came in from the area on Tuesday.

However, one large male has not been located and is now running wild.

Once native to Kerry – some well-known placenames, such as Torc near Killarney as well as Muckross, trace their origins to the wild boar which fed on the acorns of the local oak woodlands– boar in the wild are now an invasive species and are brought in illegally.

It is currently an offence without a current licence to release certain species into the wild which may have serious implications for native flora and fauna, the Department of Housing and Heritage has said.

“Such releases are not only illegal, but they also pose a very serious threat to the disease-free status of the national herd. There could be dire consequences if diseases such as blue tongue or African swine flu were to be present or if these highly contagious disease were unintentionally introduced,” it said.

On Tuesday, June 15th NPWS regional staff were made aware of the presence of approximately seven animals fitting the description of feral pig/wild boar by a concerned landowner in the Castleisland area.

Six of the seven were “dispatched humanely” and they included four females and two piglets, regional manager of the NPWS in Kerry, Séamus Hassett, said on Radio Kerry on Wednesday morning. However, the male boar is still at large. Mr Hassett appealed to the public not to approach the animal but to report any sightings directly to the NPWS in Killarney National Park on 064 6635215. The NPWS was very grateful to the landowner for reporting the boar, he said.

(Irish Times, Thursday 16th June 2021)