Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 873: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a survey has been carried out on the incidence and spread of Japanese Knotweed; if his attention has been drawn to the threat to the environment presented by the spread of this aggressive plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11692/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Japanese Knotweed was first introduced to Ireland over 100 years ago. It forms dense thickets along roadsides, waste-grounds and waterways, reproduces by vegetative means and is difficult to kill off once it becomes established.

Best Practice Management Guidelines for Japanese Knotweed have been published by the all-Island "Invasive Species Ireland Project" and can be accessed on the project website at www.invasivespeciesireland.com. This project is a joint venture between the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency with the aim of addressing the key recommendations of an all-island report on Invasive Alien Species commissioned by both services and published in 2006. My Department is not aware of any recent surveys on the distribution of the species.

My Department is examining the appropriate regulatory measures necessary to control the possession and dispersal of ecologically harmful and invasive species of plants (including Japanese Knotweed). Provisions for stronger legal control on invasive species will be included in new Habitats Regulations to be made later this year.