Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of prosecutions and convictions in 2007 for failure to control ragworth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13082/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There were no prosecutions taken under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 by my Department in 2007. However, over the past two years my Department has conducted public awareness campaigns for the control of noxious weeds. The campaigns were directed at landowners and users of land — mainly farmers, Local Authorities and developers. Campaigns consisted of the circulation of posters for display in all DAFF, Teagasc and local Authority offices countrywide, as well as in agricultural centres such as Co-ops, livestock marts, merchants' premises etc. I issued press releases on the subject of noxious weeds control and placed notices in the national newspapers.

These campaigns were in response to the increasing prevalence over recent years of noxious weeds, especially ragwort, on road margins, development sites and on farmed lands.

In addition to the public awareness campaigns, my Department issued notices to offenders to have weeds dealt with. These notices were issued whenever complaints were made by members of the public or as a result of inspections carried out by my Department's Field Officers.

The control of noxious weeds has been made a cross-compliance requirement for Single Farm Payment under Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions, which means that failure to comply with this condition may result in a reduction in the Single Farm Payment.

While the Act makes provision for taking prosecutions against offenders, this measure has not been resorted to in recent years. The preference has been to appeal to the better nature of persons responsible for such weed infested areas to face up to their responsibility under the Act and have them controlled.

Officials from my Department have met with the National Roads Authority and I am pleased to note that the Authority has embarked on a package of initiatives for the control of noxious weeds. Measures being taken this year by the NRA consist of a "special maintenance grant" which is specifically being provided to assist local authorities in dealing with the problem of ragwort and other noxious weeds as well as the provision of "Draft Guidelines on the Management of Noxious Weeds on National Roads".

Farmers, developers and Local authorities whose land contain ragwort should seek advice on control methods from their local Teagasc advisor or consult the Teagasc fact sheet on ragwort at www.teagasc.ie.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps being taken to control the spread of Ragworth which is growing extensively on roadside verges and vacant land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13081/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006, 2007 and again this year my Department has conducted public awareness campaigns for the control of noxious weeds. The campaigns were directed at landowners and users of land — mainly farmers, Local Authorities and developers. Campaigns consisted of the circulation of posters for display in all DAFF, Teagasc and local Authority offices countrywide, as well as in agricultural centres such as Co-ops, livestock marts, merchants' premises etc. I issued press releases on the subject of noxious weeds control and placed notices in the national newspapers.

These campaigns were in response to the increasing prevalence over recent years of noxious weeds, especially ragwort, on road margins, development sites and on farmed lands.

In addition to the public awareness campaigns, my Department issued notices to offenders to have weeds dealt with. These notices were issued whenever complaints were made by members of the public or as a result of inspections carried out by my Department's Field Officers.

The control of noxious weeds has been made a cross-compliance requirement for Single Farm Payment under Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions, which means that failure to comply with this condition may result in a reduction in the Single Farm Payment.

Officials from my Department have met with the National Roads Authority and I am pleased to note that the Authority has embarked on a package of initiatives for the control of noxious weeds. Measures being taken this year by the NRA consist of a "special maintenance grant" which is specifically being provided to assist local authorities in dealing with the problem of ragwort and other noxious weeds as well as the provision of "Draft Guidelines on the Management of Noxious Weeds on National Roads".

Farmers, developers and Local authorities whose land contain ragwort should seek advice on control methods from their local Teagasc advisor or consult the Teagasc fact sheet on ragwort at www.teagasc.ie.