Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. I thank Deputy Kyne for raising this very important issue and congratulate him, his family and community on his election to Dáil Éireann.

I am advised that the biggest threat to biodiversity in Ireland, after habitat destruction, is that of invasive alien species. Indeed the negative impact of invasive aquatic species such as Lagarosiphon major is widely acknowledged. Lough Corrib, the second largest lake in Ireland and a vital amenity for the west, is currently under threat from a number of invasive species, in particular Lagarosiphon major.

It is not known how the weed arrived in Lough Corrib, but similar plants can be purchased for use in ornamental garden ponds. My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, has responsibility, through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, for the enactment of legislation in this area under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2000 and is currently considering proposals that will further regulate the restriction of invasive plant species.

Funding was secured by Inland Fisheries Ireland under the EU Life plus programme for a project on the control of aquatic invasive species and the restoration of natural communities in Ireland, known as CAISIE. Control and eradication of the weed can be achieved through projects like this which adopt a co-ordinated approach in highlighting the destruction to habitats caused by invasive species. Indeed, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is co-financier of this project.

The Deputy is aware that the economic position of the country is profoundly changed, even since the initiation of that project, with implications and challenges for the public sector generally and Inland Fisheries Ireland's business specifically. The board and management of Inland Fisheries Ireland are assessing the implications of these challenges for the organisation and its business plan.

In the context of the National Recovery Plan, 2011 to 2014, and under the terms of the joint EU-IMF programme for Ireland, Departments and State agencies have to deal with reduced budgets and the prospect of further reductions into the foreseeable future. This has clear implications for the level of employment that can be sustained across all areas of the public sector.

Inland Fisheries Ireland was established last year and the intention is that this body will support a more efficient and effective management of the inland fisheries resource. There is an improved national perspective in the formulation of inland fisheries policy, supporting a more streamlined, coherent and integrated approach. While the reality is that the organisation faces pressures on its direct grant from the Exchequer, I can confirm that funding has been made available to Inland Fisheries Ireland to continue its efforts at controlling the weed in Lough Corrib. It employs a number of research staff on the project which will continue to focus on control and containment. Work on the systematic removal of the weed - in collaboration with the local authorities in County Galway - by using a wide range of tried and tested, as well as new and innovative, methods is being conducted over a three-year period.

The contracts of three temporary personnel involved in cutting and clearing the weed which was mainly done by means of scuba diving expired in December 2010. It was not possible to renew these contracts because of the public service staffing moratorium. Notwithstanding the ongoing constraints on public expenditure, Inland Fisheries Ireland has indicated that it will continue to prioritise this work from its available resources. It is considering options for undertaking works to control the weed this year. In that context, on 1 April it requested tenders from suitably qualified contractors and competent suppliers and contractors who would supply equipment or be subcontracted for the control and removal of lagarosiphon major from Lough Corrib for a 12-month period. The successful tenderer will work in conjunction with existing IFI research and operational staff on Lough Corrib. This important work will continue as resources permit.

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