Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures being taken to tackle the growing problem of the invasive species (details supplied) in rural areas of County Clare and other parts of the country; the budget available for eradication measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38817/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Japanese knotweed, Reynoutria japonica, has not been classified as a noxious weed under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 on the basis that it has no agricultural significance and is not harmful to animals or crops. It has grown in this country over the past 100 years, mainly on wastelands, roadsides, railways and riverbanks.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures which are being taken to prevent the establishment of ragwort and other noxious weeds; if her Department is complying with the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 in this regard; if a code of good practice regarding same has been drafted and implemented; the number of occupiers of lands failing to destroy same who have been prosecuted in each of the years 2002, 2003 and 2004; the budget available for eradication measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38818/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Noxious Weeds Act 1936 provides for the control of the spread of the following six noxious weeds: thistle, ragwort and dock — 1937 order; common barbery — 1958 order; male wild hop plant — 1965 order; and wild oat — 1973 order. Under this Act, it is an offence not to prevent the spread of certain weeds, which are scheduled as noxious weeds under the Act. The owner, occupier, user or manager of lands on which these weeds are growing is liable, upon conviction, to be fined. In the case of fences and margins of public roads, the local authority charged with the maintenance of such roads is the responsible body.

The Department is currently examining the provisions of the Act with a view to updating and strengthening them in accordance with good agricultural and environmental practice. My Department has written to all local authorities charged with the maintenance of public roads, to seek their co-operation in the control of these weeds on roadsides and other areas under their control. Consideration will be given to timely press releases and to eradication campaigns in the coming year. In the present circumstances, I consider that advice and persuasion is the most appropriate policy to pursue and that the good will of local authorities and others can be relied on to take appropriate action. A Teagasc advisory leaflet is available for the control of noxious weeds and is revised in line with advances in new control methods.

My Department received a number of complaints concerning noxious weeds and, on investigation, the landowners concerned were issued with a notice to destroy the weeds. Follow-up visits were made to ensure that the notices were complied with.

Control of noxious weeds is now a cross-compliance requirement for single farm payment under good agricultural and environmental practice. There have been no prosecutions in 2002, 2003 or 2004 under the Act. A publicity campaign will be launched next year by my Department to raise awareness of the need to control noxious weeds.