Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I am concerned about the native red deer herd, which was threatened with extinction not too long ago. The herd is now estimated to number 700, but we do not have a definitive number. I understand that there are some red deer in Doneraile, Letterfrack, Donegal and in Wicklow. Unfortunately, the deer in Wicklow are hybrids and the deer in Donegal are Scottish.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the former Taoiseach, Mr. Charles Haughey, for helping to protect and preserve the gene pool by taking some red deer to his island of Inishvickillane. This was to protect the herd in the event of the animals on the main land being attacked by TB, which thankfully never happened.

Killarney National Park is an international biosphere reserve and no one wants to see people entering the park with licensed guns to hunt. That would be an anathema to everything that a national park represents. Deer will naturally wander in search of food and there has been an invasion of the grazing land of the deer, in the upland areas, by cattle and sheep. The authorities have not been able to control this encroachment. I accept that the deer may be a nuisance to farmers and perhaps more control measures are needed.

The road from Killarney to Kenmare, a national secondary route, passes through the heart of the national park. There are signs warning motorists of the presence of deer because naturally the animals cross that road. However, it is scandalous that there are also 100 km/h signs along the route, some immediately adjacent to Muckross village where there is a dangerous chicane. It is difficult enough, at low speeds, to negotiate the bends in the road without having 100km/h signs erected. This is close to the area where the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, was struck. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured in that incident, but much damage was done.

I appeal for the removal of the 100km/h signs and an increase in the number of deer warning signs. This is an historic area, encompassing Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, a hotel and Torc waterfall. People should be encouraged to reduce their speed while driving in the national park.

Many people in south Kerry, and in Killarney in particular, are very perturbed by the negative attitudes to the alleged overpopulation of the red deer herd. A proper count must be conducted so that we know the exact numbers, for both the red deer and the Sika. These animals are a protected species and they deserve professional management by a properly established authority. We do not have such an authority.

I have referred to the fact that increasing numbers of deer are invading lands outside the national park area, in search of food. The deer have been forced from their mountain habitat by the competitive presence of cattle and sheep, new forestry and rhododendrons. It is time that the management of deer throughout Ireland, and in south Kerry in particular, became the focus of the interested bodies affected such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the IFA, the ICMSA, Coillte and others. These bodies must agree on structures that will protect both the deer and the public.

Members of the Kerry Deer Society are very upset at the measures being suggested for the control of deer. Hunting licences have been called for and the chairman of the society likened the situation to the wild west and deplored the indiscriminate slaughter of deer. While this may be an overreaction, it is not acceptable to issue hunting licences to people outside of State control. If a deer cull is necessary, then the State should carry it out because there is a Bourne Vincent Memorial Park Act of 1932, which was the forerunner of the Killarney National Park and covered the initial 11,000 acres——

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Senator, the time allowed is five minutes and that time is up.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that and am just about to finish.

Nobody representing the State wants to see unfortunate incidents with guns, such as the recent one in Northern Ireland where a bullet ricocheted and hit a child in the head. We do not want to see incidents like that in Killarney National Park. A meeting of all interested parties and Government personnel would be welcome, with a view to discussing the situation in a constructive manner and arriving at sensible decisions.

However, we cannot take any action until we have a comprehensive count of the herd, to establish the exact numbers of red and Sika deer in the country. The Sika is an imported Japanese species, which is not held in high regard when compared with the red deer. However, both Sika and red deer are protected under the Wildlife Acts. I look forward to the Minister of State's response on this matter.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to apologise on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, who regrets that he could not be here to address the important issue raised by Senator Coghlan.

The Wildlife Acts of 1976 to 2000 provide for the Department to make orders relating to the provision of open seasons for the hunting of wild red, Sika or fallow deer, which are not the property of the State. In general, the open season for stags runs from 1 September to 28 February and for hounds, from 1 November to 31 January. There are some regional variations, such as in Dublin and in Wicklow.

Applications for licences to hunt wild deer under section 29(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, are considered by my Department from 1 August for the following open season. Some 2,215 such licences were issued for the 2003-04 season and 2,475 such licences were issued for the 2004-05 season. The extent of the deer-hunting season is reviewed annually by staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department, taking account of the conservation needs of the individual species. The views of a number of organisations and individuals with knowledge of Irish deer species are taken into consideration also when reviewing open season dates.

In Kerry — the county referred to by Senator Coghlan — outside of Killarney National Park, wild Sika and fallow deer can be hunted during the open season for deer, on foot of a deer hunting licence. There is no open season for red deer in County Kerry, so that species cannot be hunted there at any time of the year.

Red deer causing serious damage to agriculture or forestry, however, can be killed on receipt of a licence issued by the Department under section 42 of the Wildlife Act, as amended. This provision is a separate matter from the open seasons orders. Section 42 applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is aware of pressure for an open season for red deer in County Kerry, arising from road accidents involving red deer and numbers of deer frequenting farm lands. From information collated by National Parks and Wildlife Service staff, fortunately, there appears not to have been any injuries to people as a result of collisions with deer, but car damage has been reported.

The statistics concerning accidents reported in the 2001-05 period, to date, are as follows: In 2001, two deer — one red, one Sika; 2002, four deer — one red, three Sika; 2003, eight deer — one red, seven Sika; 2004, ten deer — two red, eight Sika; and 2005 to date, four — all Sika. These statistics, though limited geographically, would suggest that Sika deer, rather than red deer, have been accountable for the increase in reported accidents in and around the national park in recent years.

The possible inclusion of Kerry red deer on the open season order for 2005-06 is being considered at present. Any decision on this issue will be based on all available information, such as results arising from counts and observation of the spread of such animals throughout the county. If it is concluded that an open season is warranted, one possibility would be to restrict shooting to hinds so that trophy hunters are not attracted. Control of hind numbers is the most effective way to manage overall numbers of any species of deer.

Within Killarney National Park, extensive counting of deer species by staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service has taken place since the 1970s. Counts have been undertaken in most years except when it was not possible due to weather conditions. I wish to reassure Senator Coghlan that these detailed counts will continue and the National Parks and Wildlife Service is willing, and has offered, to meet with interested parties to discuss the results. The Department considers that this approach would be far more productive than relying on speculation and hearsay. Should the Senator so wish, I can make the detailed statistics from those counts available to him.

In order to maintain deer numbers at a sustainable level and minimise the impact of excessive grazing and browsing on woodlands and native flora within the national park, deer have as necessary been culled, under licence, by trained and experienced National Parks and Wildlife Service staff. On average, approximately 150 Sika deer and 50 to 60 red deer per year have been so removed. Many of these were sick, old or lived alone rather than with a herd. The red deer culled have all been on the lowlands and some have been on areas adjoining the national park, such as farm lands and on Killarney golf course.

I recommend to the Senator that those concerned about the future of red deer should continue to keep in close contact with the regional management of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The NPWS staff have great experience and expertise in dealing with the conservation and management of wild deer and especially the red deer of Kerry, which are a vital part of our natural heritage.

I have noted Senator Coghlan's contribution, particularly regarding the requirement to provide warning signs and the need for motorists to reduce speed in the general vicinity of the area to which he has referred.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I would be grateful if he could supply me with the statistics to which he has referred. I plead with the departmental officials that if a cull is absolutely necessary as a result of any such statistics, it should apply only to the imported species and not to native red deer.