Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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184. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the NPWS has investigated solutions other than culling to address the overpopulation of the Phoenix Park deer herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4268/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works has a Deer Policy for the Phoenix Park which has been endorsed by both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the School of Biology & Environmental Science at University College Dublin. This policy addresses all aspects of deer welfare and management of the deer herd in line with international best practice. The Phoenix Park team has long-standing experience in managing the herd of wild fallow deer at the Park.

Together with the School of Biology & Environmental Science at U.C.D., OPW has explored various approaches to population management appropriate to a wild herd including use of contraceptives and relocation of deer to other locations. These options are impractical for a number of reasons primarily because the deer are wild and there are very significant physical challenges in dealing with wild adult deer. For example, capture and transport would be extremely stressful for the animal and so, for animal welfare reasons, relocation is not considered appropriate.

Having considered the various options in detail and with reference to international best practice for management of wild herds, OPW has concluded that a cull, as undertaken on 9 January, is considered the most appropriate and humane approach to population management.