Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
692. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an assessment has been carried out at national level of the impact of invasive plant species, including those affecting dune and coastal systems, on erosion and coastal protection; whether Dublin Bay and areas such as Dollymount Strand and Bull Island have been included in any such assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30150/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra693. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures currently in place to monitor, control and manage invasive species in coastal and dune habitats in Dublin Bay, including areas such as Dollymount Strand and Bull Island; the agencies responsible for carrying out this work, including the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30151/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra694. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding allocated in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for the management and control of invasive species in coastal areas, including Dublin Bay, by year and programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30152/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra695. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the national policies, strategies or programmes in place to address the spread of invasive species in coastal and dune environments; the way these are coordinated with coastal protection and climate adaptation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30153/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 692, 693, 694 and 695 together.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, as well as the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024, all of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species.
My Department engages with local authorities, stakeholders and national representative bodies across a range of policy areas, including invasive alien species. The role of the NPWS is implementation of the legislative framework around invasive alien species on a national level.
Local Authorities are responsible for control of invasive alien species on their own lands, as required by the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024. Under this legislative framework, responsibility for dealing with invasive alien species is a matter for the landowner.
The three local authorities within the Dublin region, Dublin City Council (DCC), Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) and Fingal County Council (FCC), treat invasive species along the coast. On council owned/managed lands, the relevant Local Authority monitors, controls and manages invasive species. For Dublin Bay, this includes coastal and dune habitats. Fingal County Council also treat IAS in areas of private land along the coast, such as on Howth Head and Ireland's Eye.
The NPWS does not carry out its own control programmes. However, the relevant Local Authorities liaise with local NPWS Conservation Rangers regarding IAS removal if it's within or adjacent to a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Special Protected Area (SPA) and sends records to the National Bio-Diversity Centre (NBDC).
Dublin City Council manages IAS on North Bull Island (SAC/SPA/Nature Reserve) through ongoing surveys, targeted control works, and site-based management. Examples of the work carried out are set out below:
Monitoring
• DCC Commissioned an ecological survey and mapping of invasive plant species across the island (2025–2026) to establish baseline and inform management
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based recording of species distribution that is aligned with national datasets.
• Ongoing monitoring by Parks staff, Conservation Park Rangers and volunteers.
Control & Management
• Targeted removal of priority species, primarily Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
• Mechanical removal using excavator (root removal) through ‘thumb’ method, supplemented by manual removal by staff and volunteers
• Works scheduled outside nesting season (1 March – 31 August) and in line with ecological constraints
• Control integrated with dune and habitat management
The Dublin Bay Biosphere Partnership is comprised of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Dublin Port, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Fáilte Ireland. The partnership manages a programme of conservation and education for the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and is responsible for reporting to UNESCO, including undertaking a full review every ten years. As part of the Biosphere, they liaise with other agencies, Third level institutes, community groups and corporates.
My Department's Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF), operated by the NPWS, was introduced in 2018 to assist Local Authorities to carry out projects that target the objectives of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). In 2024 and 2025, ten projects that included actions to treat invasive species in coastal areas received funding through this scheme, including two in Dublin. These are set out in the table below. A funding announcement for successful LBAF 2026 projects will be made in due course
|
Year |
Local Authority |
Project Name |
LBAF Grant |
|
2025 |
Dublin City |
IAS Action Bull Island |
€ 13,730.46 |
|
2025 |
Fingal |
Ireland's Eye Seasonal Wardens and IAS Control |
€ 74,226.00 |
|
2025 |
Galway City |
Galway City Council Invasive Species Strategy 2023-2033 |
€ 33,340.25 |
|
2025 |
Galway County |
Invasive Species Eradication Programme on West Connacht Islands 2025-2027 |
€ 2,793.10 |
|
2025 |
Kerry |
IAS Eradication in Dingle/Castleisland MD and Listowel MD areas |
€ 29,393.48 |
|
2025 |
Mayo |
Invasive Species Eradication Programme on West Connacht Islands 2025-2027 |
€ 2,805.00 |
|
2025 |
Wicklow |
Managing Council-owned Sites for Enhanced Biodiversity |
€ 11,973.00 |
|
2025 |
Sligo |
Dune Management Plan |
€ 5,084.27 |
|
2024 |
Kerry |
Coastal Conservation in Kerry |
€ 8,289.75 |
|
2024 |
Sligo |
Dune Management Plan |
€ 10,168.53 |
|
Total: |
|
|
€ 191,803.84 |
|
2024 subtotal: |
|
|
€ 18,458.28 |
|
2025 subtotal: |
|
|
€ 173,345.56 |
Finally, the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) hosts an important online resource, www.invasives.ie, which brings together a range of awareness raising materials, guidelines, plans and regulatory information in one place.
Individuals may contact my Department with any queries they might have around invasive alien species in their area or indeed, relating to the applicable legislation and their responsibilities under this legislation.
