Ireland could take an Australian approach to managing deer populations and "eat the problem", TDs and senators heard today (Wednesday, May 13).

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food had met today to discuss how deer numbers have been increasing significantly in recent years and the issues this in turn creates for farmers and landowners.

According to Teddy Cashman, chair of the Deer Management Strategy Group, it is important that Ireland has a "sustainable management" approach to its national wild deer population.

He told committee members that the increase in the population "necessitates a response to reduce the deer numbers to more sustainable levels to prevent the negative impacts on forestry,biodiversity, road safety, farming and animal health".

Cashman also warned that there are now deer "hotspot" areas in Ireland including in counties Donegal, Wicklow, and Kerry.

Last year Farm Relief Services Co-Op (FRS) was awarded the role of Deer Management Strategy programme manager, following a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine tender process.

According to Cashman, it has "made good progress" since it was established.

He outlined to the committee that the number of deer being shot under licence has increased under both Section 29 deer hunting licences and Section 42 serious damage permits.

"In addition, the number of Section 42 serious damage permits issued has increased from 850 in 2019 to 1,339 in 2025," Cashman added.

Deer population

The chair of the Deer Management Strategy Group told TDs and senators that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) manages deer on its own land.

"Latest figures show that since 2024/2025 season there have been approximately 3,751 deer culled by the NPWS in National Parks andNature Reserves," he added.

According to Cashman, the availability of "suitable game handling/storage facilities" in locations where deer populations need to be managed is vital for the development of a sustainable wild venison industry.

He told the Oireachtas commitee that funding has been sought and approved for the purchase of five refrigerated larders to store carcasses in various locations to preserve carcasses and enable game handlers an opportunity "to collect multiple carcasses for further handling efficiently".

Cashman added: "An incentive to encourage the hunting of small low value female deer, thereby reducing the breeding capacity of the deer population is something we would like to see and we hope to bring a proposal to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine shortly".

Australian approach

Separately Colin Donnery, CEO of FRS suggested to committee members that in Australia there is a phrase "eat the problem".

"If we get to that and the problem is resolved through the sale of venison everyone would be happy," Donnery added.

However he said currently there is not a "traceability system" for venison and FRS is trying to put that in place.

Donnery told TDs and senators that it has carried out market research "on the opportunities for venison, and to investigate new routes to market for venison meat".

"We’ve had very positive engagement with Bord Bia and the meatprocessing industry to begin investigating the market opportunities for venison," he added.

The CEO of FRS said it is focused on improving data collection and reporting of deer numbers.

"To combat this, we have invested in a dedicated IT system for our deer management programme, including the development of a mobile app called DeerConnect, which will allow hunters to identify locations of deer sightings and track deer kills," Donnery said.

He believes this will provide "important data" around the geographic spread of deer in Ireland.

"The DeerConnect app is currently at the live testing phase to test its functionality, with a small number of users actively using and testing it right now," Donnery said.