Michael Cahill
Question:258. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on proposals from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44794/26]
View answerThursday, 11 June 2026
Questions (258)
Written answers
My Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage established the Irish Deer Management Strategy group to develop a strategy for the sustainable management of deer in Ireland. The Group comprised representatives from my Department, National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte. A report was published into “Developing a Sustainable Deer Management Strategy for Ireland” in December 2023.
My Department is committed to progressing the implementation of the actions identified by the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG) in this report. The Programme Manager, who was appointed following an advertised public procurement process, works closely with the IDMSG, my Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in prioritising and implementation of the short term recommendations identified in the report.
I understand the DMSG are considering a proposal to incentivise the removal of low value deer which have a disproportion impact on the growth of the population. It is clear that we need a sustainable long term solution to the management of the national deer population, which necessitates development of the necessary infrastructure.