Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 574: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures being taken to tackle the growing problem of an invasive species, in rural areas of County Clare and other parts of the country; the budget available for eradication measures; if his Department is liaising with local authorities on eradication measures; his views on the issue in view of the fact that the weed is listed on the global invasive species database as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species and is also listed on the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8794/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's policy, set out as action 28 in the national biodiversity plan, is to prepare strategies, in consultation with the environmental authorities in Northern Ireland, to control introduced species and to prevent, or minimise, future — accidental or deliberate — introductions of alien species which might threaten biodiversity.

My Department, jointly with the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland, commissioned a scoping report on the challenges posed in the island of Ireland by invasive non-native species. This report, which refers inter alia to Japanese knotweed, made recommendations inter alia in relation to further risk assessments, cross-Border institutional co-operation, public awareness, linkage with agri-environment schemes and promoting greater use of native species. It has recently been published and is available on my Department's website.

To progress this work to the next stage, the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland, with the support of my Department, is now inviting tenders to take forward these recommendations on an all-Ireland basis. A key area of work to be addressed will be the production of management plans and codes of good practice to help control and manage new and established problem species and to engage the stakeholders in addressing the problem. This contract will be jointly funded by the Environment and Heritage Service and by my Department. My Department has allocated €70,000 for this all-Ireland project in 2006.

The national parks and wildlife service of my Department is available to offer support and advice to private and public stakeholder groups, including local authorities, that are concerned about the impact of particular invasive species.