Jim O'Keeffe
Question:405 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of deer here; if the figure is increasing or decreasing; and his policy for these animals. [7485/04]
View answerTuesday, 9 March 2004
Questions (318)
Written answers
My Department has not carried out a national survey of deer numbers in Ireland. However, the extent of woodland habitat continues to increase as a consequence of public and private afforestation. Assessments by Coillte, the country's largest owner and manager of woodland, suggest that the distribution of deer has expanded in recent years so it is likely that the population has also increased.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department carries out localised annual counts of deer populations on lands managed by the Department. Depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats, especially woodland, culls are carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach unsustainable levels that would have negative ecological consequences. Where deer are causing damage on private property, landowners may apply to my Department for licences under the Wildlife Acts to control the animals, when this is necessary outside the annual open seasons for deer shooting.