Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way in which he plans to address community concerns regarding the deterioration in the quality of the habitat in the special area of conservation at the Burrow, Portrane, County Dublin, part of Rogerstown Estuary special area of conservation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9921/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Invasion of sand dunes by Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) is of ecological concern and a request for proposals to investigate the national extent and future management options for Hippophae rhamnoides in sand dunes is being prepared by my Department.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) is listed on the third schedule to the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 as an invasive alien species of national concern.

Under the existing legislative framework, land management and control of invasive species are matters for landowners. I have asked the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department to investigate this matter further with a view to establishing clearly where responsibility lies in this instance and, in that context, how best to mitigate impacts of the invasive species on habitats and species protected under the Habitats Directive.