Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she plans to take to deal effectively with the problem of the population of Asian clams at Lanesborough, County Longford and surrounding areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32355/15]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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There is a problem with the Asian clam in Lanesborough where there is a tourism industry worth €30 million at stake. The buck is being passed from one person to another. Could the Minister confirm that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is taking full responsibility to sort out this problem and what is it doing about it?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. In general, control of invasive species is a matter for landowners, and my Department carries out considerable work on control of such species in national parks and nature reserves.

My Department does not have the resources required to extend such work into the wider countryside, or to provide dedicated funds for such work to other bodies. Control of aquatic species in rivers, lakes and canals is a complex and difficult issue, as many of the species concerned can be very difficult to detect until well established, and thereafter are persistent and may be impossible to eradicate.

I am aware of the work of Inland Fisheries Ireland on the Asian clam problem, in addition to a wide range of useful work on invasive species, especially in controlling aquatic and waterside invasive plants. I am also aware of work carried out by various bodies, including county councils, the National Roads Authority, Waterways Ireland and the National Botanic Gardens. My Department will continue to work with these and other bodies.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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This is a problem on the River Shannon. My question is very straightforward and simple. Is Waterways Ireland or the National Parks and Wildlife Service responsible? My understanding is that, under articles 48 and 49 of the habitats directive, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is the main body responsible for invasive species. Can the Minister confirm that in Lanesborough, Carrick-on-Shannon, Shannonbridge and in the River Barrow, where we have a problem with the Asian clam, her Department is the main body responsible? I have mentioned fisheries bodies and Waterways Ireland. Can the Minister state clearly whether the National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible in order that the people in the areas affected will know who to deal with? Could she respond with a simple "Yes" or "No"?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am responsible for the enforcement of legislation, including the Wildlife Acts and the birds and natural habitats regulations of 2011, prohibiting the release or introduction of listed invasive species, or allowing them to spread. However, responsibility for the control of invasive species normally lies with the landowner. As Minister, I am not responsible for or resourced to control invasive species wherever they arise. In the case of the Asian clam in the River Shannon, it is clear that a collaborative approach involving the expertise of Inland Fisheries Ireland, the ESB and Waterways Ireland, in addition to my Department, is appropriate. That is what is happening, and Inland Fisheries Ireland is at the helm. I must stress that expert scientific advice indicates that the extermination of the clam at this stage may be virtually impossible. There is not a simple solution to this, unfortunately. It is not a problem unique to Ireland. It features across many countries where people are travelling. Species are entering unbeknown to people. In certain environments, species can become invasive because of how they breed. That is the case with the clams in the River Shannon.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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We have been in contact with officials in Europe who say the National Parks and Wildlife Service would be responsible, on land or water, for the eradication of invasive species. However, the Minister has made it very clear that it is not her Department that is responsible for the Asian clam in Lanesborough. Obviously, it must be a matter for Waterways Ireland. I presume it is not a matter for the ESB. I need to determine it is not the responsibility of the Department. The Minister referred to joined-up thinking involving three separate bodies. That is great, but there has to be a captain of a ship and there has to be a captain on a football team. The Minister is saying her Department is not responsible, contrary to the advice we are receiving from Europe.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In general, the landowner is responsible for control. As with the Noxious Weeds Act, the legislation in question is complex to enforce in practice. In this case, it requires a multi-agency response, and that is what is happening. We have to work together. The problem is serious and I accept that. Some work has been done on it. Following the initial identification of the Asian clam in the hot water stretch and cut areas of Lough Ree at Lanesborough, early action was taken from a fisheries perspective by Inland Fisheries Ireland to close the fishery and erect public warning signs to reduce the threat of further spread. A detailed survey was carried out in the Lanesborough area at the top of Lough Ree involving the deployment of significant resources by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The survey results were scientifically analysed by senior scientific staff of Inland Fisheries Ireland. A trial dredge of material was completed by Waterways Ireland with assistance from Inland Fisheries Ireland. Some 2.5 tonnes of material was removed from the trial site, and this material was bagged and moved to the Inland Fisheries Ireland store in Roscommon for disposal.

We need to work together to find a solution. There are a number of agencies but none is specifically tasked with the control of invasive species. There is no dedicated funding stream, although some very good work has been done. Control measures are local in scale and, by definition, reactive. In this case, as stated, the response has to be a multi-agency one.