Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
231. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he supports maintaining the protected status of fallow and sika deer, under the wildlife Acts, given they are a non-native species with a seriously detrimental impact on the environment and biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55789/23]
View answerGrazing by deer is an integral part of woodland ecology. Where it occurs at appropriate levels, it facilitates structural diversity, encourages high levels of biodiversity in the ground and field layers, maintains open areas and stimulates natural regeneration. Unfortunately, grazing pressure in Irish woodlands is rarely at appropriate levels.
Sika deer, fallow deer and red deer have all significantly expanded in range and numbers across Ireland over the past 30 years. In some areas, this has led to damage to farmland, forestry and to biodiversity. In September 2022, in recognition of the growing impact of deer, my Department together with the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Marine established a Deer Management Strategy Group (DMSG).
The role of the DMSG was to develop proposals to ensure sustainable deer numbers while achieving the objectives of landowners ranging from biodiversity, forestry, agriculture, animal health and road safety.
Following extensive public consultation and stakeholder engagement, the final report from this group was submitted to Government in December 2023. The report contains a series of short and medium term recommendations including the following:
• Appointment of a program manager to set up deer management units with local co-ordinators
• Develop an Implementation Plan in conjunction with the Deer Management Strategy Group
• Set up Deer Management Units, in critical/hot spot areas initially, following on from localised stakeholder meetings
• Revision of the deer Open Seasons Order to align with the current dates in Northern Ireland in the first instance
• Investigate support incentives necessary for national deer management program (including for Venison market)
• Monitor the impacts (on biodiversity, forestry, farming & road safety) arising from Implementation Plan
• Engage with state bodies to develop a structured deer management policy on State lands
Staff in both Departments are now working to implement these recommendations.
As a first step, my Department has prepared a new Wild Mammals Open Seasons Order to extend the hunting season for deer and this is currently going through the drafting process.
Monitoring is also underway which will allow us to track changes in forest damage and woodland regeneration. The results of this monitoring will confirm whether or not deer impacts are being successfully managed, or whether additional measures may be needed.
In relation to the specific issue of the protected status afforded to fallow deer and sika deer, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is currently undertaking a project to review and update wildlife legislation. This is an extensive review and is a multi-year project. It will examine closely the effectiveness of our legislation in protecting wildlife and regulating activities that adversely impact on wildlife and biodiversity. As part of this work the NPWS will review which species should enjoy ‘protected wild animal’ status under the Act, and the status of fallow and sika deer will be reviewed in that context.
