The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food will meet today (Wednesday, May 20) to continue discussions on deer management.

The committee will hear from a range of representatives, including from the Road Safety Authority, the National Association of Regional Game Councils, FBD Insurance and Westmeath County Council.

Last week, the Oireachtas committee met with the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and more.

'Eat the problem'

The meeting on May 13 heard that Ireland could take an Australian approach to managing deer populations and "eat the problem".

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.