Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 645: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the arrangements for dealing with the problem of wild deer in the countryside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30861/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Wild deer are protected under the Wildlife Act, 1976 (as amended). There is an annual open season when deer can be legally shot under licence. The open season for deer operates from either 1 September to 31 December or from 1 November to 28 February depending on the species of deer. However, red deer cannot be hunted in County Kerry at any time of the year.

In recent years deer numbers have been increasing and deer have been spreading to areas where they were not previously found. This trend has led to concern with, for example, wild deer now considered a serious threat to forestry management in many areas. Control of deer on private property is the responsibility of the landowner, who may apply to my Department for a licence under the Wildlife Acts to cull deer when this is necessary outside the annual open seasons.

My Department carries out localised annual counts of deer populations on lands managed by the Department such as National Parks. Where appropriate, culls are carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach unsustainable levels that would have negative ecological consequences.

My Department will be undertaking a national deer survey in 2008 which should provide better figures on the overall deer population.