Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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391. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will make available copies of the annual targeted programme in Ireland's national parks to manage the invasive species, which he has stated is carried out by his Department and is routinely monitored and adjusted with a view to ensuring optimum efficacy. [25265/14]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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395. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 28 May 2014, if he will provide a copy of the targeted management programme to which he made reference; and if he will provide further details of the nature of the review of current practice of available resources taking place within his Department. [25420/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 395 together.

My Department’s staff in Killarney National Park manage Rhododendron ponticum in the Park, in accordance with a long-term strategic programme. The focus of the Rhododendron management programme is reviewed and refined on an ongoing basis, so as to direct action in the most efficient and effective way to different locations in the Park, having regard to available resources and taking account of the vigorous nature of the plant.

While my Department uses internal working documents for operational purposes, the documentation is not a publication as such and would not be considered suitable for wider dissemination. However, having regard to the welcome interest in this matter, it is my intention to have details of this programme published on the Killarney National Park website as soon as it can be arranged.

In the meantime, general information on methods used for the control of Rhododendron ponticum in Killarney National Park is available on the Park website at .

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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392. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding rhododendron in Killarney National Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25348/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department carries out an annual targeted programme of works to manage the spread of the invasive species Rhododendron ponticum in Killarney National Park. The extent of the problem varies from area to area within the Park and, having regard to the very dynamic nature of this invasive species, the targeted management programme is routinely monitored and adjusted with a view to ensuring optimum efficacy. In the past, large tracts of the Park including ancient Oak woods were heavily infested with this robust and vigorous invasive plant which, if left unchecked, can grow in dense thickets and replace native shrub, exclude native vegetation, and constrain native woodland regeneration.

Since 2011, nearly €500,000 has been invested in this work and for this year I have allocated a further €100,000 to Killarney National Park for the management of this plant. Approximately 3,000 of the 10,000 hectares in the Park were, to some extent, affected by Rhododendron infestation. My Department's management programme has made significant inroads into the problem and now approximately 2,000 of those hectares, involving some 40 different sites, are under effective control.

Ultimately, the plan is to clear all Rhododendron from Killarney National Park. The annual Rhododendron management programme is intended to create conditions in the Park that are conducive to the protection and re-establishment of native species and, particularly, our native woodlands.

The work involved is difficult and resource intensive and is carried out by outside specialist companies, staff of my Department, and by volunteer groups under staff direction and supervision. My Department is committed to continuing this important challenging work into the future.

In this regard, I would like to recognise the past and continuing important contribution of volunteer groups to this work, and also to acknowledge the innovative work of my Department’s staff in Killarney National Park who have been instrumental in developing new methods to increase the effectiveness of our efforts to control this plant.