Maurice holds an Honours Degree in Wildlife Biology from IT Tralee and a Masters Degree in Ecological Assessment from UCC. He is an experienced field ecologist, has carried out numerous protected species surveys including bats, birds, otters, Kerry slug and lamprey. His projects have included breeding seabird surveys on islands off the southwest coast of Ireland, upland and woodland surveys, invertebrate surveys, surveys for forestry licence applications. RHAT assessment, aquatic macroinvertebrate water quality assessments, scientific research on the impact of fire in Killarney National Park.