Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 March 2022
471. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tests are being carried out among the national deer herd with particular reference to the spread of bovine TB; the number of tests that have been carried out on the deer herd in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17302/22]
View answerWhilst badgers are the primary wildlife focus in the bovine TB eradication programme, a certain level of surveillance takes place in deer. In 2020, 130 deer were submitted to the Department's Regional Veterinary Laboratories and three were positive for TB. In 2021,125 deer were submitted and 12 were positive for TB. Of the 15 positive animals, 10 were from County Wicklow and one each from Counties Cork, Tipperary, Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny.
In relation to wider issues of wild deer management and control, I have asked my officials to work with their colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to establish a stakeholder discussion body to follow up on the work of the Irish Deer Management Forum. This new stakeholder group will be established in the coming months.
In addition, my Department is funding research on deer ecology in Ireland. This project, which is being carried out by scientists in UCD, will help to provide an evidence base for those considering wild deer management issues.
