Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, policy responsibility for road safety lies within the remit of my Department, however, responsibility for deer and other wildlife resides with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue is also acutely aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, as well as our nature ecosystems.

In order to address this the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD convened the Deer Management Strategy group last Autumn, under the Chairmanship of Mr Teddy Cashman. On foot of a recommendation of the strategy group a public consultation on the management of deer was launched late last year. This was the first major public consultation into the impact of deer and it received over 1,500 submissions from all over the country and all walks of life.

Some of the findings of the public consultation are that the main concerns regarding the impacts of deer to emerge from the consultation were biodiversity loss / damage (82%), damage to agricultural crops / grazing (81%), road safety issue (80%), preventing the establishment of new forests (71%) and a role in the epidemiology of TB in cattle (67%). Submissions also outlined that in order to tackle the problems raised by deer, 86% of the survey’s respondents said culling of deer is needed. Some 78% said supports for landowners to manage deer is required while 69% said a domestic venison industry should be expanded.

A report was published in December 2023 that presents recommendations and covers a wide range of issues from hunter training and forest design to land use management and the venison market. The 16 recommended actions are collated between short- and medium-term implementation targets.

The Deer Management Strategy Group continue to meet regularly to progress these recommendations towards implementation.

Two of the main enabling recommendations are the appointment of a deer management programme manager and the establishment of local deer management units. A procurement process is underway to appoint an entity to provide a programme manager and establish 15 deer management units.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.