Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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409. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he intends to alter the current open season for wild female deer to begin on 1 October and end on 30 April in place of the current open season which starts on 1 November and ending on 28 February in view of the fact that female deer give birth beginning in May and are heavily pregnant from February onwards carrying a fully formed fetus and during October female deer still have dependant calves/fawns and to kill the mother at this time would result inthe death from starvation over a number of weeks for the orphaned calf/fawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2605/13]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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410. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Wild Deer Association of Ireland is the lead organisation representing those who work with deer and their management here and they recently stated that wild deer numbers have been decimated in many areas due to illegal taking or poaching of deer and that this crime is currently at epidemic levels nationally; and the actions he intends to take in dealing with this crime. [2663/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.

The current hunting dates for deer species are prescribed by the Wildlife (Wild Mammals) (Open Seasons) Orders, 2005-2012. These Orders currently allow the hunting of female Sika, Fallow and Red Deer between the first day of November and the last day of February each year. I recently removed the hunting of female Red Deer from County Kerry from these Orders.

A review of the Open Season Orders for deer species is currently being undertaken by my Department. This review includes consideration of the most appropriate dates and time periods for the hunting of all deer species and sexes.

The review process has involved a public consultation element whereby interested parties were asked for their views. My Department received over thirty submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, including hunting, conservation, farming and sporting rights organisations, as well as from the general public. I am aware that there are differing opinions about extending the open season for female deer species. These views will be taken into account in any final decision to amend the Open Seasons Order. In the meantime, there will be no alteration to the current hunting season for female deer species, which ends on 28 February 2013.

My Department is aware of the illegal killing of deer in certain areas of the country and organisations such as the Wild Deer Association of Ireland have provided information to my Department on such incidents. All such reports are followed up insofar as possible within existing staffing levels. I am aware that staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have carried out an increased number of patrols, including night patrols, in the last few months in Co. Kerry, where there have been reports of increased illegal deer killings. Persons involved in such illegal activity are, of course, subject to prosecution.