Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to give permission to Inland Fisheries Ireland to employ staff in 2011 to continue with the work of trying to control African pond weed in Lough Corrib, otherwise known as lagarosiphon weed, in view of the fact that money has been made available by the Office of Public Works, Galway City Council and Galway County Council for this work in 2011; if his attention has been drawn to the damage being done to Lough Corrib by this weed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5291/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The negative impact of invasive aquatic species it is widely acknowledged. I can confirm that funding has been made available to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to continue in efforts at controlling the Lagorosiphon major weed in Lough Corrib. At present, IFI have a number of research staff employed on the project, which will continue to focus on control and containment. Work on the systematic removal of the weed using a wide range of tried and tested, as well as new and innovative, methods are being conducted over a three year period.

The contracts of three temporary personnel involved in cutting and clearing the weed, which was mainly done by scuba diving, expired in December 2010. It was not possible to renew these contracts because of the Public Service Staffing moratorium. Notwithstanding the ongoing constraints on public expenditure, IFI has indicated it will continue to prioritise this work from its available resources and is considering options for undertaking works to control this invasive species this year.