180. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware that research completed and published in 2012, with the support of her Department, outlining the findings of a four-year research programme by leading scientists that the red deer in Killarney National Park in County Kerry, our last native red deer herd, has been in continuous existence for over 6,000 years and that their number needed to be between 600 to 1,000 to be sustainable otherwise the herd’s health was at risk from diseases and weakening associated with in-breeding, and furthermore, in a recent statement her Department stated it believes that red deer in Killarney National Park currently number 550, despite confirming it had not undertaken a census of the herd’s population; that her Department plans to undertake a cull and, given the risks associated with a cull, the need to ensure the future survival of our native red deer, and that the number of native red deer is unknown; if her Department still plans to undertake a cull without completing a census; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40837/15]

Summary

180. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware that research completed and published in 2012, with the support of her Department, outlining the findings of a four-year research programme by leading scientists that the red deer in Killarney National Park in County Kerry, our last native red deer herd, has been in continuous existence for over 6,000 years and that their number needed to be between 600 to 1,000 to be sustainable otherwise the herd’s health was at risk from diseases and weakening associated with in-breeding, and furthermore, in a recent statement her Department stated it believes that red deer in Killarney National Park currently number 550, despite confirming it had not undertaken a census of the herd’s population; that her Department plans to undertake a cull and, given the risks associated with a cull, the need to ensure the future survival of our native red deer, and that the number of native red deer is unknown; if her Department still plans to undertake a cull without completing a census; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40837/15]

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