Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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44. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason her Department has not performed an assessment of the impact of the Asian Clam infestation in the Shannon River at Lanesborough in County Longford may have on the Lough Ree special area of conservation and special protection area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39263/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is concerned about the possible impact of Asian Clam in Lough Ree, but also aware of the great practical difficulty in eradication and/or prevention of its spread once it has arrived in any river system, as is the case in this instance. I understand that the Asian Clam has been found in surveys by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in Lough Ree. It is currently unclear to what extent the clam is likely to colonise the lake, and to what extent it might affect the lake biodiversity over and above the impact of other invasive species already present there. My Department will continue to liaise with IFI on this matter.