Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture, forestry and conservation with the need to ensure deer populations occupying the same land resources are managed at sustainable levels and in a responsible and ethical manner. It should be noted that while the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department licenses the hunting of deer, my Department does not own the deer population. Deer roam freely throughout the countryside and are present in many parts of the country. It is not part of the remit of my Department, nor would it be generally possible, to cordon them in specific areas of land.

I am sure the House is aware of the unique position of the Kerry red deer. A survey of red deer on the island of Ireland undertaken in 2014 found that the red deer population in County Kerry was descended from an ancient introduction and merited conservation. During the mid-19th century the Japanese sika deer was introduced to Ireland in Powerscourt. It has thrived dispersed within County Wicklow and been translocated to other sites throughout Ireland.

Despite a long-standing overlap in the ranges of red deer and sika deer in County Kerry, no red deer-sika deer hybrids were detected there during the survey work. However, red deer-sika deer hybrids were identified in County Cork. Given their proximity, the County Cork hybrids pose a threat to red deer in County Kerry. As hybrids are not easy to distinguish visually, genetic testing is necessary to tell them apart from pure bred deer.Further genetic surveys are under way on deer in south-western Ireland and departmental officials in Killarney National Park continue to co-operate with this work.

All wild deer species in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. However, there is an annual open or hunting season during which deer can legally be shot under licence. The open season for deer operates generally from the beginning of September to the end of February each year, depending on the species and gender of deer. This reflects the conservation needs of the species concerned including red, fallow and sika. Some 4,700 deer hunting licences were issued by my Department last year.

I point out that the hunting of red deer in Kerry is totally prohibited. However, permits may be issued by my Department to hunt red deer in Kerry in instances where they are causing serious damage to crops or forestry and these applications are considered on a case-by-case basis by my Department.

I accept that deer can and do cause serious damage to crops and forestry. Control of deer on private property is the responsibility of landowners. Where control measures need to be taken outside the open season, landowners may apply to my Department for permission under section 42 of the Wildlife Act to cull deer. This offers a facility whereby a person can obtain a permit, on a case-by-case basis, to stop serious damage being caused by deer on specific lands. Permissions are only issued where there is evidence of such serious damage and on a case-by-case basis to take action by means which can include scaring, capturing or killing.

The Department routinely carries out localised deer counts on State lands such as in Wicklow and Killarney national parks. Where appropriate, and depending on the numbers and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats especially woodland, culls may be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative consequences. However, it must be noted that the population of red deer in Killarney National Park and surrounding areas are of national conservation significance.

My Department commissioned a comprehensive survey and report in the winter of 2016 on the distribution, population density and population structure of red deer and sika deer in Killarney National Park. On foot of the recent report, staff from my Department are currently undertaking a cull of deer in the national park, which will be concluded by the end of March.