Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am raising this issue on behalf of Councillor Gerard Flynn who is a member of Clare County Council. It relates to the burdensome problem of wild ivy attaching itself to trees, a problem that arises not just in County Clare but also throughout the country. The ivy which is sometimes referred to as "English ivy" is causing damage to the native tree population, both in public amenity areas and also on private property. It does not kill a tree, but the resulting activity after it has started to grow can kill the tree. It creates competition for nutrients, water and sunlight. It makes a tree weaker and more prone to disease and branch dieback. It also contributes to the added moisture around the bark which attracts bugs and accelerates rot. As it grows from the ground up, branch dieback is usually evident at the bottom of the tree initially. This leaves the tree looking like a stalk of broccoli, with a head at the top. It creates an imbalance for branches and there is the added weight of the ivy at the top. As a result, the tree is more prone to falling during drastic weather events, which meants that it is also a safety issue. I live in County Donegal and the wind on the western seaboard can be atrocious, particularly during the winter. Trees that are heavily weighted with ivy at the top are less balanced and can fall in the wind. They have been known to cause accidents when they fall across a road. I have often encountered instances of trees falling across a public road, resulting in it being blocked or an accident being caused.

I am not sure whether the Department has conducted an analysis of this issue as it might be a new or emerging problem, but on behalf of Councillor Flynn I am asking the Minister of State to carry out a nationwide review to ascertain the extent of the problem and whether a policy intervention by the Department is required. Perhaps he might consider my request. I am not sure if it is an issue in County Wicklow, but I am told it is a growing problem along the western seaboard. People in the United States refer to this as the "English ivy" problem. To remedy it, they do not cut the ivy away from the tree, as Senator Billy Lawless will be aware, but cut it at the bottom of the tree and pull out the roots to stop it from growing. It then dies. Perhaps that solution might be considered. It is probably an extensive problem if it has to be dealt with on a countrywide basis, but it might be more prevalent in some counties than in others. Has the Department carried out any analysis?