Written answers

Wednesday, 7 November 2018

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Deer Culls

Photo of John BrassilJohn Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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189. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to introduce a deer management plan for Killarney National Park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45980/18]

Photo of John BrassilJohn Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the culling carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service since the deer on Innisfallen Island, Killarney, were found starving in March 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46057/18]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 192 together.

I can assure the Deputy that the deer population in Killarney National Park is carefully monitored and managed by qualified staff in my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, as part of its regular on-going management operations, the Department carries out localised annual deer counts on State lands, when appropriate. Every year, as part of this on-going management of deer populations within the Park, deer numbers may need to be reduced. Deer have the potential to impact significantly on woodlands, including the iconic yew, oak and also wet woodlands, within the Park (e.g. by bark stripping of mature trees and preventing regeneration).

The Department commissioned a comprehensive survey and report in the winter of 2016 on the distribution, population density and population structure of red deer and sika deer in Killarney National Park. The study found that the total estimated red deer density over the entire study area of 13.64km2 was some 708 deer. A further census of areas of the Park was commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and conducted in Spring 2017. Following consideration of these reports, population surveys, on-going monitoring by staff and scientific advice, my Department commenced a cull in January 2018.

The cull in Killarney is carried out by trained, experienced and dedicated NPWS staff in a professional manner and is based upon scientific research. As part of this managed process, more than 120 deer have culled since January 2018. It is not possible to estimate how many more deer will be culled in 2018 due to weather and other factors. The following points should be noted:

- The 2018 cull was decided upon following consultation with NPWS professional staff, including scientific input as required.

- Shooting of deer in the Park is carried out only by NPWS professional staff members, who are fully trained, competent, expert and licensed in the use of firearms.

- The selection of deer shot is in accordance with normal deer management protocols. The deer are shot humanely by qualified NPWS marksmen.

- The remains are processed and disposed of in full compliance with the applicable Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine guidelines, and with the involvement, as appropriate, of officials from that Department.

There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture, forestry and conservation with the need to ensure that deer populations occupying the same land resources are managed at sustainable levels, and in a responsible and ethical manner. Ultimately, however, where deer species are increasing in range and numbers, depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats (especially woodland), culls need to be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences.

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