Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the important deer issue first, there is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture, forestry and conservation to ensure the deer populations occupying the land are managed at a sustainable level and in a responsible and ethical manner. Where the deer are increasing in range and number, depending on the annual count and the incidence of damage by deer to habitats, especially woodlands, culls are necessary on occasion to ensure the deer populations do not reach a level that is unsustainable or that would have a negative ecological consequence. Every year the deer numbers have to be reduced as part of the ongoing management of the deer population within the park. On foot of a number of recent reports and surveys of the deer population, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken a significant cull this year in the Killarney National Park, in which more than 120 deer have been culled to date. Both the sika and red deer are included in that cull.

I appreciate the Deputy's comments on roads, about which there is an ongoing dialogue with Kerry County Council. We must ensure the safety of people within the area also. We continue to erect public notices about the issues the Deputy raised such as Lyme's disease.

The Deputy also mentioned Killarney House, the second phase of which we will look at after the opening of the exhibition last week. We will look to the gardens also and see what we can do. The opening has been a great success and the house has been completely renovated and rejuvenated, according to people in Kerry. It has brought much extra tourism into the area, which is a bonus.