Invasive Species Policy

Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Questions (278)

John Brady

Question:

278. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on plans to remove invasive species in the State; to provide, in tabular form, the projects undertaken for each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23735/24]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Managing invasive species is one of the important areas of work undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with a significant amount of resources devoted to this task every year. Invasive species cause grave damage to the ecosystem and to conservation objectives, with species colonising the environment and having significant impacts on biodiversity. The NPWS tackles invasive species in numerous ways and invasive species management forms part of the routine work of the NPWS. The attached table lists specific initiatives aimed at controlling invasive species in NPWS regions containing National Parks.

Location	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Killarney Division	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo
Mid Western Division (inc Burren NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)Survey of Invasive Species (Region) - e.g. Japanese Knotweed
Mid Western Division (inc Coole Park NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)Treatment & removal of invasive sycamore (NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)Treatment of invasive Clematis Vitalba (NR)	Commencement of Invasive Species Control works
Northern Division (inc Glenveagh NP)	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control
South Eastern Division (inc Wicklow Mountains NP)		Removal of Invasive Species inc Cherry Laurel, Conifers (NP)	Invasive Species Control inc Spruce (NP)		Invasive Species Mapping (NP)
Western Division (inc Connemara NP)	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhode Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhode Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhodo Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhodo, Montbretia, Cotoneaster, Lesser Knotweed Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhode Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel
Western Division (inc Wild Nephin NP)	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo		Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control (multiple locations) - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control (multiple locations) - Rhodo