Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food meets for engagement on Deer Management

The meeting will hear from representatives from:

•    Irish Deer Management Strategy Group
•    Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
•    The National Parks and Wildlife Service
•    Coillte
•    Farm Relief Services Co-Op
 
 
Speaking ahead of the meeting Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said:
“Tá na feirmeoirí agus lucht úsáidte na mbóithre tuaithe ar an eolas faoin méadú atá ag teacht ar líon na bhfianna fiáine, Is mór an fonn atá orthu, mar sin, eolas a fháil faoi chur ar bun agus cur i ngníomh an phlean bainistithe fianna. Beimid ag cruinniú leo sin a bhfuil freagracht orthu as an bplean a chur ar bun chun plé a dhéanamh ar na dúshláin atá i gceist agus ar an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh acu chun an plean a chur i ngníomh."
 
“The Joint Committee will discuss the issue of deer management at the meeting on Wednesday 13 May 2026. The Deer population creates pressures on farms across Ireland. They cause direct crop and grazing losses by feeding on crops and grass. This leads to reduced silage and grazing available for livestock and damages fencing as deer move through fields. Deer are also recognised as being a source of TB which is transferable to cattle. For many farmers in deer-dense counties there are financial costs arising from a mix of lost yield, broken fences, cattle being effected by TB and important time spent on deer management.”
 
“Deer are a growing road safety hazard for Irish road users. The number of deer-vehicle collisions has risen as both deer numbers and traffic volumes increase, with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and An Garda Síochána showing increases in annual incidents. The issue is especially acute on rural roads in counties like Cork, Wicklow and Kerry where higher deer densities intersect with rural roads.”
 
“The expanding deer population also creates pressures on biodiversity. Deer are known to eat the bark of young saplings impacting on plantations, both commercial and recreational as well as wild growth. Over grazing in areas of areas identified as being of particular natural importance has also resulted in loss of natural habitat.”
 
“These issues and concerns will be explored during the course of the meeting by the Members and the witnesses.”
 
 
Read more on the work done by the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food 
 
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.