Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking to overcome the spread of [i]Lagarosiphon major[/i] in Lough Corrib, Galway; if he will set up a full-time, adequately staffed and fully resourced task force to deal with this serious infestation of Lough Corrib waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20260/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Lagarosiphon major, also known as the curly-leaved pondweed, is a native of southern Africa. It has been widely sold for many years as an oxygenating plant for garden ponds and aquaria. However, it is viewed as a major threat to Irish lakes and their associated wildlife since it became established in Lough Corrib in 2005.

A Lagarosiphon Task Force has been established to address the spread of the pondweed in the lake. The Task Force includes representatives of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Central Fisheries Board, the Western Regional Fisheries Board, the Office of Public Works and Galway County Council. Last year my Department provided funding to the Central Fisheries Board to purchase a weed cutting boat to be dedicated exclusively to removing Lagarosiphon major in the lake. I understand that the boat is now moored on the lake and will begin operations in the next few weeks. In this regard, I have provided additional funding of €200,000 this year to the Central Fisheries Board for work involving the removal and control of Lagarosiphon major in the lake.