2 AUGUST 2018

ICSA rural development chairman Seamus Sherlock has welcomed the signing of a contract with the Wicklow Uplands Council for the provision of Deer Management Services in the Wicklow Region. Mr Sherlock said, “This is indeed a step in the right direction, however it must be viewed as just that, a step. Primarily, it is an important acknowledgement by both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that ‘unsustainable deer populations have the potential to impact adversely on agriculture’, but we must go further.”

“The consequences of uncontrolled deer populations in Wicklow have been felt for too long by local farmers. Grazing pastures and feed supplies are being mercilessly raided on a daily basis. This is coupled with the above average number of TB reactor cattle in those areas populated by deer and amounts to an intolerable situation for many. Mandatory TB testing on culled deer must be made a priority.”

“There is no doubt that these farmers have felt abandoned in recent years as the deer multiplied.”

ICSA Wicklow chairman Tom Stephenson added, “Regrettably, there is no funding provided for professional shooters to assist with the deer management process. Deer numbers have risen to completely unmanageable levels and leisure shooters cannot possibly deliver an adequate impact.”

ENDS