Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of deer that have been culled from 1 October 2007 to 1 October 2008 in County Wicklow and the remainder of this State; the way this is organised; the action taken in relation to the deer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34437/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relate to the conservation of populations of certain protected species including all deer species.

Deer may only be hunted under licence. The open season for most deer species, including Red, Fallow and Sika, operates annually from 1 September to 28 February, depending on the gender and age of deer. However there is a 12-month open season for Muntjac Deer.

Applications for licences to shoot 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. Information on the numbers of deer killed in the previous season is gathered at this stage. It is estimated that 23,699 deer were killed in the State in the 2007/2008 season, of which 10,282 deer were killed in County Wicklow.