Concern over deer straying on to new Cork bypass

REPORTS of incidents caused by deer straying onto the new N22 Macroom-Baile Bhuirne bypass has prompted calls for the establishment of a sustainable deer population management programme to protect agriculture, the natural ecosystem and to facilitate road safety.

Cork North West Fine Gael TD and former Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said the expanding deer population had been the ‘cause of numerous road accidents’.

His comments followed the announcement in recent days that a national deer culling programme is to be set up early in the New Year.

”In recent weeks, I have received several reports of incidents caused by deer straying onto the new Macroom-Baile Bhuirne bypass,” he said adding “this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Sinn Féin local election candidate in the Macroom municipality, John O’Sullivan also said the issue needs tackling.

“Someone is going to be killed if we don’t seriously tackle this issue,” he said.

A Cork County Council spokesperson said that two collisions with deer had been reported to the authority.

The Irish Deer Commission has urged drivers to slow down and never to swerve if they see a deer on the road.