Kerry County Council is rolling-out technology which aims to prevent road traffic collisions involving deer.
In recent years, several councillors and groups have called for action as the issue of deer running out on roads and causing collisions was regularly raised at council meetings.
The council has heard from the relatives of people who were killed after deer collided with their cars, while the serious injuries sustained by others following similar collisions have also been highlighted over the years.
At the recent monthly meeting of Kerry County Council, it was confirmed that pilot schemes are to be rolled out to address the road safety concerns.
Kerry County Council says these two pilot schemes aim to address and prevent road traffic accidents involving deer, while also protecting the animal.
The first is a detection and alert scheme which will be delivered in conjunction with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the outskirts of Killarney on the N70 near Ballydowney where the council says a large number of deer cross the road between the National Park to nearby agricultural land; this scheme will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
The second is a deterrent system and this is a joint initiative between the council, University College Cork and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Michael Healy-Rae.
The council says this pilot system identifies when deer approach a road and the technology activates an audible alarm discouraging deer from crossing the road when vehicles are present.
This is adapted from the technology used to control and prevent bird strikes at airports; it’ll be initially trialled on the R569 between Kilgarvan and the N22 Killarney to Cork Road.
The council says UCC will monitor the schemes and, subject to their success, the technology may be expanded to other locations around the county which are known for deer activity.