Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Daly for raising this important issue. The NPWS is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. In addition to this national legislation, EU Regulation No. 1143/2014 on invasive alien species also provides for a range of concerted EU-wide measures to be taken with respect to listed species of Union concern, known as the Union list. Together, these instruments make up the legislative framework for dealing with invasive alien species in Ireland.

Public bodies, Departments and agencies throughout the country work within this framework in the context of species listed both nationally and on the list of invasive alien species of Union concern to manage, control and, where practicable, eradicate these species. Responsibility for dealing with invasive alien species rests with largely with landowners. Much of the work in tackling invasive alien species happens at local level and is carried out by local authorities in their areas through their own biodiversity action plans.

There is a range of ongoing efforts by NPWS to control mink in this country. These are primarily being managed by the service's regional staff and under a number of life projects, for example, for curlew and corncrake. These efforts are focused on the protection of rare ground-nesting birds and nest protection officers are in place across the country to control and remove mink where they catch them.

Additionally, the Department's local biodiversity action fund, which offers funding to help local authorities achieve actions identified by the national biodiversity action plan, has been utilised consistently since its inception to aid in combating invasive alien species. Since 2019, 29 of 31 local authorities have availed of this funding for 85 projects with a total amount of €1,123,605 being spent.These include projects to control such species as Japanese knotweed and the quaga mussel along with awareness and education projects on how to tackle invasive alien species. However, there is a need for greater co-ordination and coherence in the overall approach to invasive alien species. In this regard, a national invasive alien species management plan has been included in the programme for Government and has been prioritised by the Department. Co-ordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, this new national plan will act as an overarching framework for the implementation of policy and legislation around invasive alien species. The plan will set out actions to tackle invasive species and incorporate the range of monitoring and reporting activities already under way in accordance with the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species, IAS.

With specific regard to mink, funding was provided by NPWS in 2012 for a scheme administered by the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, for a bounty on mink as part of a wider effort to protect ground nesting birds in western counties. I understand that this scheme ran for three years until 2015, non-deterioration and is no longer in operation. As with any scheme that might be supported by grant aid its renewal and expansion would need to be discussed with the relevant parties and decisions taken in the context of the overall NPWS budget, priorities and work programmes.