Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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720. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if EU funding is available to Ireland to help tackle the problem of the invasive species known as Japanese knotweed; if so, if he will apply for same; his views regarding the potential cost to the State if the problem is not addressed now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38280/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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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. This plant is included among the list of the 100 most invasive alien species of the world.

My Department has been working with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to fund and manage the Invasive Species Ireland Project since 2006. This initiative provides advice and guidance on the management of a range of invasive species, including the knotweed, which can negatively impact on the environment and on property on the island of Ireland. I am not aware of any estimated cost of not addressing the spread of this species. Best Practice Management Guidelines for Japanese knotweed have been published and can be accessed at on the project website at . These guidelines provide practical advice to persons and organisations, including local authorities, on the removal and disposal of Japanese Knotweed. When dealing with Japanese Knotweed, it is critical to ensure that any viable rhizomes, the main means by which the plant spreads, are not given the chance to escape into the wider environment.

I am aware that EU funding is available for projects to tackle the problem of invasive species. For example, a project on Controlling Priority Invasive Non-native Riparian Plants and Restoring Native Biodiversity (CIRB) aims to control and, if possible, eradicate harmful invasive plant species, including Japanese Knotweed, from trial river catchments in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The £2.6 million CIRB project commenced in early 2011 and will operate until December 2014. The project is part financed by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme, managed by the and part-financed by and the Northern Ireland .

In addition, my Department provided Inland Fisheries Ireland with matching funding of over €700,000 under the EU Life+ funding initiative for a four year project called CAISIE (Control of Aquatic Invasive Species in Ireland) to target the invasive curly-leaved waterweed (Lagarosiphon major) in Lough Corrib, Co. Galway, and to tackle key invasive species on the Grand Canal, Barrow Line and Navigation.

My Department will consider the results of these programmes to see whether further targeted schemes should be pursued or supported in the future.