As the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is in the Chamber, I want to raise the serious issue of wild deer causing accidents on our roads in County Tipperary and west Waterford. From a health and safety point of view, somebody is going to be killed. The deer are causing accidents and destroying cars every day, as well as causing accidents between cars on the motorway and on the byroads. In 2015, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht initiated a survey but nothing has happened. This is a huge health and safety issue. There is also damage caused by deer to crops and farm fencing. Bucks and does, heavy animals, are being killed on the roads day and night, as well as causing huge damage. I am worried somebody will be killed.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said somebody would be killed. In County Kerry several people have been killed, while others have been maimed and injured. It is not good enough that roads are infested with deer, many of which are roaming into towns and villages, with no law and order being enforced. When they cause an accident, no one claims ownership of them, but if somebody shoots one of them, there is an investigation by An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. There is no accountability, which is unfair to motorists because they are not safe on the roads.

I thank the Deputies for their questions. They have previously raised this issue on the floor of the Dáil. It might be useful if they were to submit it as a Topical Issue matter as it would allow a more lengthy discussion on it. The Deputies will be aware of the deer management programme for Killarney National Park. Licences are issued through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, but I will be happy to deal with the matter again outside the Chamber.