Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Animal Diseases Issues

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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32. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the concerns of farmers that the increase in deer population may be adding to the number of herds with TB; the discussions he has had with other Departments regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35167/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for the protection of wild deer in the State under the Wildlife Acts rests with the Minister for of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I understand that there is an annual open season during which deer can legally be shot under licence. Control of deer on private property is the responsibility of landowners who may apply to the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht for a permission under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts to cull deer where this is necessary outside the annual open seasons. These permissions offer a facility whereby a person can obtain a permit, on a case by case basis, to prevent serious damage caused by individual deer on specific lands. Permissions are issued by D/AHG where there is evidence of such damage. I might also mention that, arising from the contacts between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, a non-statutory Irish Deer Management Forum to look specifically at tackling the range of issues around deer will shortly be activated. This Forum will be independently chaired and comprise staff from both Departments and from stakeholder groups. This group will be a national group and is separate from the Wicklow Deer Management Group that both Departments have also supported.

Based on existing evidence, my Department’s belief is that, insofar as TB is concerned, the underlying problem in areas such as Wicklow is driven primarily by badgers and not by deer. In fact, research has shown that deer as a species are not particularly effective as maintenance hosts for TB except when numbers are high. In this context, an exercise conducted in 2007-2008 focussed on TB strain-typing in cattle, deer and badgers, found a significantly higher prevalence in badgers than in either cattle or deer.

In response to current concerns, and following meetings with farmers from Wicklow, my Department is organising a cull of 100 deer in the North Wicklow area for laboratory testing for TB – the project will also involve Strain typing of the TB for comparison with that found in cattle and badgers in the same area.

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