Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this difficulty in rural areas. We even had difficulties with this issue in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I am taking this Commencement matter for the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Humphreys. She is aware of public concern about the impact of invasive species, including Japanese knotweed. Her Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, Sl No. 477/2011, both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species.

In law, control of invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed, is a matter for landowners. In this regard, the Department carries out considerable work on controlling invasive species in national parks and nature reserves. However, it does not have the resources required to extend such work into the wider countryside or to provide funding to landowners and home owners. While there is no national eradication plan in place at present for Japanese knotweed, there are several initiatives in place across Departments and agencies, as well as local authorities, which support measures to tackle invasive alien species. Significant work is being carried out by a range of agencies in this area, including several local authorities.

The management of invasive alien plant species project, led by TII, is a €5 million project aimed at managing invasive knotweed and other non-native invasive plant species over the next five years on the national road network and its interactions with regional roads. The project involves collaboration with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. In 2015, an invasive alien species national stakeholder group was established, led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This group includes representatives of a wide range of Departments, agencies and local authorities. It provides a forum to discuss the implications of the implementation of EU and national legislation, as well as to exchange information on the various initiatives being undertaken in this area.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will consider options for improved national co-ordination of work on invasive species, including increased co-operation between local and central government. Information on the distribution of invasive species in Ireland, including knotweed, is available on the invasive species section of the National Biodiversity Data Centre's website. Incidences of invasive species can be reported via the website. I encourage members of the public to use this facility. Answers to frequently asked questions on Japanese knotweed are also available from the same website.

Invasive species by their nature do not recognise political boundaries. A considerable level of co-operation exists on this issue between Departments and agencies in both jurisdictions. The Department has worked closely over the years with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, NlEA, to fund and manage the invasive species Ireland project. It is hoped this project can recommence in the near future. Information on general management approaches to invasive plant species is available from the invasive species Ireland website.