RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
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07 Sept 2025
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07 Sept 2025
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Donegal's large deer population is associated with negative ecological and socio-economic impacts, such as damage to peatlands and forests, agricultural and commercial forestry losses, Lyme disease transmission, and road accidents.
Independent councillor Michael McClafferty has been leading a campaign for a deer culling policy to deal with such issues which he feels might help address these negative impacts but could be ethically controversial.
He queried the matter again at last Monday's meeting of Donegal County Council when he asked if there had been any update on the search to establish such a policy here which he first mooted last November and when it might be enacted
He was told that a Deer Management Strategy Group made up of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM), National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte was re-established in 2022.
The group is tasked with developing a sustainable deer management strategy for Ireland in consultation with stakeholders.
This consultation is to gather views on key issues relating to deer management in Ireland, seeking views on the impact of increasing deer numbers on a variety of issues such as forestry, animal health and welfare, biodiversity, road safety and the welfare of the deer themselves.
They are also seeking views on potential solutions and barriers/constraints to these solutions.
Cllr McClafferty also learned that the group is requesting the views of all stakeholders as they aim to create a sustainable and effective deer management strategy for both the present and future.
The engagement of key stakeholders and the wider public will be key to the development, finalisation and implementation of this strategy.
They are inviting any interested individuals, groups, or organisations to share their views on deer management in Ireland.
This can be done by completing the online survey.
The survey is available at this link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/4d824920-820a-dd9e-1548-7dc8a242c73c
The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday week, February 10.
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