John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The proliferation of red deer in Killarney National Park is now at crisis level. The number stands in excess of 1,000 but, as they are protected, only Killarney National Park can deal with them. This leads to the question whether, if something happens such as a road traffic accident involving a red deer, Killarney National Park is to be held responsible. This crisis has numerous effects. First are road safety issues, and there are ecology issues for the national park. There are animal welfare issues for the deer and there are health issues, because the area is a Lyme disease hotspot. There are other types of deer, such as sika deer, and there is a risk of the hybridisation of the herd, which nobody wants. A deer management plan is needed for this. It has been called for on several occasions and it has not been delivered. There have been a couple of reports but reports are just reports. If there is no plan or an implementation plan behind it, it will be impossible to get to grips with this very serious issue.

Killarney National Park is severely under-resourced and it is struggling with a huge rhododendron crisis. I wonder if the park has the ability to deal with this issue, even if it had a plan in place and was directed to deal with it. Will the Minister consider transferring responsibility for this issue to the Office of Public Works until it is under control? This seems to be the only logical solution. The Minister could also look at recruiting responsible, trained and licensed hunters in the vicinity to deal with the crisis until it is under control.

On the verge of the national park, in places like Tomies and Beaufort, farmers and landowners are at breaking point over this issue. One farmer has up to 20 red deer grazing his land daily. Can the Minister imagine the effect that is having on fodder control for his own animals? The deer leave droppings and these become part of the silage, rendering it useless.

In summary, if we do not have a plan, we have no ability to deal with the issue so can the Minister ensure that a plan is put in place? Could she look at transferring responsibility for Killarney National Park to the Office of Public Works and look at the possibility of recruiting trained hunters to deal with the immediate crisis? Could she use her good offices to ensure that instead of having reports and possible actions, we have real action before the crisis escalates beyond an already critical point?

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