Transport agency slammed for delays to much-needed deer control – ‘They’re absolutely off the Richter scale’
The KerrymanKerry councillors have slammed Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s alleged backtracking on fencing for a road where “deer are nearly as numerous as the cars”.
Councillor Brendan Cronin claimed “serious commitments” were made by TII on fencing and wider road works on the N72 between Killarney and Lackabane village, highlighting the increasing risk of road fatalities due to a rampant deer population.
Killarney Municipal District (MD) were told last year that a deer deterrence system was being rolled out as a pilot scheme. The system would produce a noise deterring deer only when both vehicles and deer are detected, allowing deer to cross at other times, said the council.
At a Killarney MD meeting last week, the council said the new technology consisted of two initiatives, including a deer control system alongside a driver alert scheme, both of which were only in development stage.
“I don’t know how the deer feel about it, but it’s just not working,” said Cllr Cronin.
They’re beautiful to look at but not so nice when they’re on your car bonnet or windscreen.”
He slammed the scheme as “ridiculous” and said there had been several accidents on that stretch of the N72.
“There’s been a lot of talk, a lot of promises but nothing whatsoever has happened,” said Cllr Cronin, referencing the €240,000 the TII had also promised for resurfacing between the Liebherr factory and Lackabane Village in 2024.
“The problem is in the entire county,” added Councillor John O’Donoghue, “the deer are nearly as numerous as the cars.”
Deer numbers were “absolutely off the Richter scale” agreed Councillor Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan, claiming he had experienced three near misses on one journey back from Sneem.
Safety trumps absolutely everything else and there’s a huge safety issue on that particular stretch of road,” said echoed Maura Healy-Rae.
When the deer technology was first introduced it seemed like “the messiah” she said, but emphasised that months later, they were still being developed.
“We’re all reasonable people, its fencing is what will really deal with the deer at that location,” she said.
Councillors expressed further disappointment at the TII assessment of widening the road, which found works to be “not feasible” due to “environmental constraints”.
The council said they would request that the TII attend a meeting with elected members to give a comprehensive update on works happening in the MD.