Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of deer management units (DMU’s) nationally; the current number of staff employed in each DMU; the current number of vacancies in each DMU, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36364/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage established the Irish Deer Management Strategy group to develop a strategy for the sustainable management of deer in Ireland. The Group comprised representatives from my Department, National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte. A report was published into “Developing a Sustainable Deer Management Strategy for Ireland” in December 2023.

The report listed 16 Actions, 8 of which are recommended in the short term and 8 of which are recommended in the medium term. These recommended actions address a wide range of issues from hunter training and forest design to land use management and the venison market. The report concluded that a formal structure was required to manage deer in Ireland, which involved the appointment of a Programme Manager to implement the recommendations of the report and the establishment of local deer management units in known hotspot areas.

My Department is committed to progress the implementation of the actions identified by the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG) in this report. The Programme Manager, who has been appointed through the Farm Relief Services Limited following a procurement competition, will work closely with the IDMSG, my Department and the NPVS in prioritising and implementation of the short term recommendations identified in the report.

The locations of the deer management units (DMUs) have been finalised. There are 15 DMUs in total throughout the country. The locations of the DMUs is in response to what might be referred to as deer hotspots. These DMUs aim to give the best geographic coverage in order to reduce the density of deer in these areas. Each DMU is deemed to be a part-time position, however one Coordinator may cover two DMUs which would make it a full time position for that person. Currently there are four full time Coordinators covering eight DMUs. There are offers out for a further three DMUs and the programme manager is in discussions with candidates on the remaining four DMUs.

The programme manager, through the local deer management units, will be liaising with licensed hunters and landowners in relation to the management of deer populations within the deer management units. Deer can continue to be culled by appropriate licensed hunters within the hunting season and with the use of Section 42 licenses issued by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) outside the hunting season. FRS will not be employing hunters. Hunters who wish to contribute to the efforts in a DMU area and in local Deer Management Groups should contact FRS who will put them in contact with the relevant Coordinator.