Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

183. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the national park in County Kerry and the deer population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2386/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department spent over €2.1m in current and capital funding on Killarney National Park (including funding on Killarney House) in 2016. This represents a large proportion of my Department’s overall budget and reflects the value and the commitment that my Department places on the Park. My Department continues to manage Killarney National Park to abide by the strict criteria and standards for National Parks as set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

With regard to the first matter raised in the "details supplied" and confirm that my Department is committed to tackling the issue, the control of which is difficult, costly, and labour intensive. It is the subject of a long-standing on-going programme in the National Park.

Since 2011, my Department has invested over €700,000 to tackle the issue in Killarney National Park and in 2016 alone the Department spent almost €210,000 on clearance. An updated Strategic Management Plan for the issue is being finalised and my Department hopes to publish this in the coming months. My Department has an all year round student volunteer programme for site maintenance and also runs 4 (two week) VSI work camps over the summer months in this regard as well. In addition, substantial areas are maintained and cleared under contract.

In 2015, my Department appointed a specialist for a two-year period to assist the on-going eradication programme. Having regard to the dynamic and aggressive nature of growth, the key deliverables of this contract include:

- conducting initial assessment of affected areas having regard to available resources to identify and to initiate early actions required for optimal impact;

- in consultation with and working alongside Park Management/staff to consider, propose and oversee the allocation and application of available resources to the programme and programme implementation;

- production of a five-year management strategy for its continued eradication of at various locations within Killarney National Park;

- carrying out scientific investigations with a view to developing new measures for its eradication; and

- provision of advice and support to Park management and staff in the roll-out of the initial phase/phases of a work programme to give effect to the five-year management strategy for its continued eradication at various locations within Killarney National Park.

Regarding the second matter raised in "details supplied", my Department commissioned a Census Report for Killarney National Park in 2016. The draft report has been submitted to my Department and is being reviewed by my officials.