Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken an ecological damage assessment on species of conservation concern within the Blackwater river (Cork/Waterford) SAC (002170), including otter, kingfisher, lamprey, atlantic salmon, and freshwater pearl mussel; and if he will provide the findings [50875/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mitigation and recovery measures in place to support the recolonisation of protected species within the SAC; and the timelines and estimated costs. [50877/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether funding will be allocated to long-term biodiversity monitoring programmes on the Blackwater, including aquatic plants, insect life, and riparian bird species; and the monitoring design of same. [50878/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 288 and 289 together.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is working closely with other State agencies as part of an inter-agency group to collaborate on the investigation into the fish mortality incident at the River Blackwater Special Area of Conservation.
The NPWS is surveying and monitoring any impact on the protected species which are qualifying interests for the site, for example Otters and the Freshwater Pearl Mussel. To date, the NPWS and other agencies have found no evidence of any mortalities amongst these species and other wildlife aside from a number of salmon mortalities reported. This will continue to be monitored and reviewed.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is the state environment agency tasked with the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource in Ireland. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees and implements the national water quality monitoring programme. Both agencies are under the aegis of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and, as such I am not in a position to reply as to any plans for mitigation or recovery measures for the impacted fish species in the context of this question, which would be best asked directly at that Ministry, in the first instance.
The NPWS undertakes monitoring programmes for habitats and species in accordance with the requirements of the EU Birds and Habitats Directive under a six year cycle. The Blackwater River is included within the scope of its monitoring programme.
