Killarney fires force deer into Cork spreading TB - Dáil told

'There is clear evidence in the stretch of countryside from Killarney, through Millstreet, to Macroom. There has been a huge increase as a result of more deer coming into that area.'

A Sika deer pictured in the aftermath of the fire in Killarney National Park in 2021. 'The view is that the deer moved because of the damage done by fires around the Killarney lakes area. We now have a whole lot of farms locked up as a result of it.' Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan

FIRES around the Lakes of Killarney have forced deer to travel across the county bounds to Millstreet and Macroom with a resultant huge increase in bovine TB, the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee was told.

Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke asked what action was taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food Marine once the issue was identified.