COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 13, 2023

QUESTION NO. 7

QUESTION: Councillor Lyn Hagin Meade

To ask the CEO for an update on the investigation and prevention strategy regarding reported badger baiting within Parks in the County?

REPLY:

The Council has received two recent reports of badger baiting in Tymon Park however from the information available and knowledge of what took place on both those occasions, it is not certain that badger baiting was taking place.  On an occasion in December last, a group of males were encountered by a Park Ranger who made contact with a colleague and when both Rangers approached this group they dispersed.  The Gardai were notified of the matter however there was insufficient information available to them to identify the people involved and so no investigation could be pursued.  On the second occasion in early January an adult male and a youth were encountered with what was decribed as an air rifle which they were using to fire at a target which was placed some distance away.  The Gardai were called and spoke to the adult regarding the potential dangers involved in firing such a weapon in a public place, following which these people left the park.  No evidence was found on either occasion to confirm that badgers were being hunted from their setts.  The park rangers as well as public realm supervisory and general staff will continue to be vigilant in relation to this matter.  Any further reports will continue to be reported to the Gardai as the practice of badger baiting is illegal.