Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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565. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which the deer population has fluctuated nationally in the past ten years; the extent to which culls have taken place or are proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33803/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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There are three species of deer present in Ireland – red deer, fallow deer and sika deer. A fourth species, muntjac deer, has been reported from the wild on a number of occasions, but we have no evidence that this exotic and potentially invasive species is breeding in Ireland. Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. There is an annual Open Season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The current Open Season for deer operates generally from 1 September to the last day of February, depending on the species and gender of deer.

No national census of deer populations has been carried out to date. However, my Department carries out localised annual deer counts on State lands such as National Parks and the indications are that all three deer species are increasing in range and numbers.

Although not a direct measure of deer population size, the licence returns from deer hunters also provide some indication of wild deer numbers. The number of deer reported shot during the hunting season rose steadily from c10,000 in 2000 to over 30,000 in 2010 and this figure has increased again in recent seasons, to 40,000 for the first time in the 2017/2018 season.

Where appropriate, and depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats, especially woodland, culls may be carried out on State land to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences.

Control of deer on private property is the responsibility of landowners. My Department does not have powers to carry out any such culls. Landowners may apply to my Department 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 only issued where there is evidence of such damage.