Deer cull needed in East Galway

WILD deer are causing unprecedented problems for motorists and farmers, following what appears to be a huge increase in their numbers in recent years, according to Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton.[private] Motorists have encountered the deer at all times of the day and night on roads across east Galway, while farmers are having fences and pastures damaged. He has sought a meeting with Minister Deenihan on the issue of a controlled cull and is being supported on this issue by Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle, who is seeking a similar cull in Wicklow. Deputy Connaughton commented: 'I don't wish to see deer numbers decimated and do appreciate the place that they play in the Irish countryside, but at the moment numbers would have appear to have increased to such a degree that they are causing a hazard to motorists and are also damaging stock fences.'[/private]