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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 6

Written Answers. - Illegal Slaughter of Deer.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

98 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, he has for combating the illegal slaughter of deer by gangs of poachers who operate in various parts of the country but who are particularly active in Wicklow and who are believed to sell the carcasses directly to certain butchers, hoteliers and restaurateurs; if he will provide figures indicating the effect of poaching upon the various species of deer herds in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2760/95]

While I accept that some level of poaching is always going on, I have no evidence that there is a particularly high level of poaching of deer at present. Anti-poaching controls are operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and, where evidence of illegal activity is established, prosecutions have been and will be brought against those involved. Visits are made by NPWS staff to wildlife dealers to check their sources of supply and butchers, hoteliers and restaurateurs are also checkedout where there is reason to believe that such visits are warranted.

While precise figures are not available, best indications are that poaching has declined rather than increased in recent years and such illegal activity does not pose a threat to the size of deer populations at this time. The NPWS are actively working with other interests, such as Coillte Teoranta, to protect deer not just in County Wicklow but throughout the country.

I appeal to those with any evidence of deer poaching to make such evidence available to the NPWS and/or the Garda Síochána so that prosecutions can be brought against those involved in this type of illegal activity.

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