Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the list of locations in respect of the number of licences he has issued under section 42 of the Wildlife Act which provides for the shooting of wild deer outside the designated open season and allows for night time shooting from the public road with the use of high powered lamps in view of the fact that the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act 1851 prohibits discharge of a firearm from within 60 feet of a public road; if the shooting of wild deer in this situation is legal, and even though it is highly dangerous to local communities, it has the potential to promote the illegal taking of deer; the reason he continues to issue permits allowing for the culling of female deer while they still have dependant young, which results in the dependent calf or fawn suffering an horrendous death over a number of weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31641/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Wildlife Acts require that deer may only be hunted under Ministerial licence. The open season for most deer species is from 1 September to 28 February, depending on the species and gender of the deer. This reflects the conservation needs of the species concerned. Muntjac deer, which are considered an invasive species, can be hunted at any time of the year.

Deer can and do cause serious damage to crops and forestry. If a person needs to control deer outside the annual open seasons, permission under Section 42 of the Wildlife Acts is required. Permissions are issued on a case by case basis, to take action by means which can include scaring, capturing or killing.

Recently I approved new procedures for consideration of applications for permission to use lamps and vehicles for the culling of deer at night, subject to certain conditions. Permission can be obtained only where there are substantial practical difficulties with effective culling over large areas by daylight. Under the new procedures, one licence was issued in respect of a number of named individuals working for Coillte Teo, with a further licence issued in respect of a number of staff in my Department. Both Coillte and my Department manage properties with extensive private road networks. The shooting of deer from public roads does not arise in either case. It should be noted that licences issued under the Wildlife Act do not supersede any other requirement of the law in relation to the use of firearms.

I am advised that such culling, carried out with care by trained and highly experienced staff, does not create a danger for local communities. Nor does it promote illegal taking of deer.

However, I have instructed that there should be a review of the new procedures after a year in consultation with relevant stakeholders, in order to ensure their effectiveness.

In relation to culling of female deer, I have powers under the Wildlife Acts to include conditions in Section 42 permissions to prevent the culling of female deer during certain periods, and such conditions are included in many Section 42 permissions. However, it can be necessary to control female deer and dependent calves. Responsible and competent shooters ensure that culling is carried out in the most humane way possible.