Mr. Niall ? Donnch?:

Anybody that can offer help in dealing with rhododendron we will absolutely look at. In Killarney we have a very active meitheal group that works with us. We also tap into Volunteering Ireland in the context of the summer programmes. I qualify that by saying we are working in a very sensitive environment. Groups need to be supervised. You do not want somebody taking out a rhododendron bush and taking out a very important native oak sapling in the process. There are vast areas to be addressed, including in Wild Nephin National Park, where there is a significant rhododendron challenge. We are addressing that. It is ongoing.

I will make one point on the growth of the national park and nature reserve network. In recent years we have added the Featherbeds at Glenasmole which is a very significant acquisition for the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Not all acquisitions are acquired: with some we negotiate its handing over to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, some of it is acquired and some is bequeathed. The Nephin site was a hugely significant addition to our national park in Mayo. This year alone, we have closed ten different transactions including the acquisition of the Brú na Bóinne national park, which is a mix of something that is farmed for nature and designations. We are always on the lookout for high-nature value areas to add to the network and to afford that full protection to them. I will now hand over to Ms Carberry to answer the queries on the special areas of conservation network and designations.