TWO vehicles were written off after colliding with deer on the road, according to a West Cork councillor, who called for greater signage warning motorists of the danger.

Cllr Danny Collins (Ind Ire) listed a number of places, such as Carriganass and Snave in the greater Bantry area, and Old Court and New Court in the Skibbereen area, where deer are congregating and crossing the roads.

Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) listed other danger zones, such as Ballinhassig, where a dead deer was left on the roadway, Ballinacarriga, Clonakilty and Lyre.

Cllr Finbarr Harrington (Ind) said there is a large population of deer in the Glengarriff area and they too are presenting a problem for unsuspecting motorists.

Cllr Caroline Cronin (FG) said a large herd of deer is proving problematic at Derryconnell, Kifadda Woods in Goleen, and Church Cross, where deer were filmed crossing the road, stalling traffic, and scaling a stone wall leading to the woods at Skeagh.

In raising the notice of motion, Cllr Danny Collins said the owner of the van, and the owner of the car, which were written off before Christmas could not claim the damage on their insurance policies.

‘That kind of financial loss is devastating,’ said Cllr Collins, who also warned of the dangers that an impact with a large, wild animal could have to life and limb.

‘The problem is no longer confined to one area,’ he added, ‘there are places throughout West Cork where deer are seen on a regular basis.

‘I pass Snave Bridge every day and once or twice a week you’ll see them, there at the side of the road, and running out while there are cars coming from Castletownbere at speed.’

Cllr Isobel Towse (SD) suggested that the council should write to the deer management strategy group who are supposed to sustainably cull the country’s deer population.

‘Deer numbers are increasing, so we need to know where they are and what is being done to manage herd numbers,’ Cllr Towse added.

Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) said: ‘Signage had been put in place in Manch, and while that might warn motorists, deer can’t read.

He agreed with Cllr Towse that they should contact the deer management strategy group and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and build a database.

Aside from the cost of an impact, and possible injury, Cllr Sexton made the point that the local authority will also have to pay to have deer carcasses removed from the side of the road.

‘There are a lot coming into Clonakilty and Lyre,’ he said, ‘and there is nothing that I can do about it. I can’t run after them. There should be a database, and herd numbers should be culled.’

Cllr Finbarr Harrington (Ind) said he had tabled a motion, last year, calling for a cull of West Cork’s deer. ‘Something must be done. Aside from the damage they could do to a person’s car, someone could be fatally injured,’ he warned. Senior executive engineer, John Ahern, told the members: ‘Cork County Council is engaging with the NPWS on the subject of deer migration and movement patterns.’

He said suitable signage could be erected at known locations, where deer are known to be present on a regular basis.

The engineer said Cork County Council would review each case on an individual basis, but it would not be possible to provide signage at every area of concern.