Seanad debates
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Commencement Matters
Road Safety
2:30 pm
Marie Moloney (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Nash, to the House and wish him, the Cathaoirleach and the staff a happy new year.I raise this Commencement matter because there is a stretch of road at Ballydowney, Killarney, on which there is no ditch or fence. It is level with the national park where the deer are free to roam. At a recent inquest, the coroner said that while he could not find traces of deer in that fatal accident, there were traces of deer in three fatal accidents previously. Many minor accidents have occurred on that stretch of road. Last week, I spoke to a woman who told me a deer wandered onto the road, hit the windscreen of her car and smashed it and broke the mirror. Many such accidents occur at that location but many people do not report them. I have been on to gardaí in Killarney who told me they get between 70 to 100 calls every year from people reporting deer on the road posing a danger.
The Minister will appreciate that if a farmer had livestock in a field, he would have to have a ditch or a fence to stop cows, sheep or other animals wandering onto the main road where an accident could happen. There used to be a high wall at that location but for some reason, it was removed and there is nothing in its place to prevent the deer wandering onto the road. The Minister should not get me wrong. I love the deer. They are a big draw in terms of visitors to Killarney town and we are very proud of them but we must ensure the safety of motorcyclists and pedestrians on that stretch of road. It is the main Ring of Kerry road on which many tourists travel. There is a warning sign with a deer on a yellow background and there is also another one indicating that horses are crossing as the road is used by a riding school. Signs should be erected that will have more of an impact on tourists and make them aware that accidents occur at this location and that deer wander onto the road.
I am aware there has been some resistance to putting up a fence in this area. It is difficult to establish who owns the land because in response to a motion put down by someone, the council said the land was in the ownership of Bord Fáilte. I would have thought it was in the ownership of the Office of Public Works but I believe now that it is under the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. We should try to establish who has responsibility for that stretch of land and ask that a barrier be put up to stop the deer jumping onto the road and causing many accidents in that location. I will await the Minister of State's reply before I refer to the matter further.
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I thank Senator Moloney for raising the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys. Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. It should be noted that while the National Parks & Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht licenses hunting of deer, the Department does not own the deer population. They roam freely throughout the countryside and are present in many parts of the country. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine published Deer Management in Ireland - Framework for Action in March last year, which recommends a series of actions on deer management and conservation in a number of areas, including addressing the impact of deer in places where they are widespread. An Irish deer management forum has been established to implement the various actions listed in the report. The forum comprises representatives from the main stakeholder areas such as landowners, forestry, hunting and conservation organisations as well as representatives from both Departments.
With regard to calls for increased fencing relating to incidents of deer presence on public roads in Kerry, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has no plans to fence the national park. Deer, albeit larger, are like other wild animals in this country and I am advised it is not part of the remit of the Department to cordon them onto specific areas of land. Moreover, fencing the national park would not be a viable solution and would not achieve the desired results for a number of reasons. The presence of deer is not confined to the national parks and so fencing of these properties would serve no practical purpose in terms of wild deer control or management. The park is more than 10,000 ha in size, including some rugged terrain. Fencing this area would be an enormous task which is unlikely to result in the desired objective. Sika deer are capable of going under fencing that is 8 in. off the ground while red deer are capable of knocking fences that are preventing them from reaching traditional feeding and shelter grounds.The erection of a fence of this scale could also impact on the sensitive habitats within the park. There are many deer outside the park boundaries which would still be capable of running into the path of motorists. The Department is of the view that improving sight lines for motorists as well as improved, possibly larger, signage is likely to be the most effective measure to assist motorists in remaining vigilant when driving through areas where populations of deer can be expected. Officials from the Department have discussed this with Kerry County Council and I understand the council has recently undertaken works to improve sight lines in the Ballydowney area for the benefit of motorists. Additional or relocated advance deer warning signs, or both, may also be provided by the local authority.
Marie Moloney (Labour)
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The Minister of State has said that wildlife in the country is protected under the Wildlife Acts, which is true, but who is going to protect the people? Who is going to protect the motorists? Three fatal accidents involving deer have occurred in that area. How many more people must die before we do something about it? I cannot understand it. There was a wall there previously but it was taken down. Why was the wall there in the first place if we were trying to let the deer roam freely? Someone made a wise decision to erect a wall there but now that wall is gone, which poses a danger for motorists.
I know this issue is not in the Minister of State's remit and he cannot answer my questions on it, which is why I would have liked the Minister to be here to respond. I want to know why the wall was taken down. Why do we feel we can do nothing about a stretch of roadway which has seen many accidents involving deer? We can protect the animals and their habitat but we cannot protect the people.
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I understand the point being made by my party colleague, Senator Moloney, and it is important that the Department and the Minister respond directly to her concerns. If it is the case that there was a wall there, perhaps some form of secure fencing could be erected in the area to protect motorists. It is terrible to hear that deer may have been responsible for accidents in the area.
Marie Moloney (Labour)
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That was according to the coroner.
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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That is deeply regrettable and unfortunate and, of course, action should be taken to protect the population and to protect road users. This is not within my remit, as the Senator has accepted, but it is important that officials in the Department would contact her to clarify some of the points she has made. I will ask the Minister to ensure the issues she has raised are addressed in the interests of protecting motorists in the Ballydowney area.