Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether the issuing of 4,200 licences for hunters to kill deer is excessive; if he will outline the calibre of weapons licensed for such hunting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37250/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Licences to hunt deer are issued by my Department on an annual basis to individuals under the Wildlife Acts. The hunting season for deer is regulated by the Open Seasons Order, which prescribes the periods for the hunting of various deer species; these periods vary depending on the gender and age of the deer. The hunting of red male deer is prohibited in the county of Kerry during the open season. There is a 12-month open season for Muntjac deer, as it is considered to be an invasive species.

The type and calibre of firearms and ammunition which may be used to shoot deer species is regulated by the Wildlife Act 1976 (Firearms and Ammunition) Regulations, 1977. These Regulations stipulate that rifles with a calibre of not less than .22 calibre may be used. In recent years, deer numbers have been increasing and deer have spread to areas where they were not previously found. Consequently, I do not consider, having regard to the scientific conservation advice available to me, that the number of current deer licences is excessive.