Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1002.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to list the initiatives and the funding spent by his Department in the past ten years to rid the country of invasive species of plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32006/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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My Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit activities to introduce or spread invasive species.

Managing invasive species within the boundaries of Ireland’s National Parks system is one of the important areas of work undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with a significant amount of resources devoted to this task every year. Invasive species cause grave damage to ecosystems and to conservation objectives, with species colonising the environment and having significant impacts on biodiversity.

Each year the NPWS carries out an annual targeted programme of works across a number of sites to manage the spread of invasive species and this multi-faceted programme includes monitoring, surveillance, clearance and investigation. The below table provides the allocations made within the Capital budget for the Park and Reserves in each of the past 10 years and for 2024 to assist with these invasive species control works:

This level of investment is expected to increase in the coming years as the NPWS attempts to bring infestations of invasive species under control in the Parks. This investment is seen not only as a measure to protect nature, but to protect both the public in terms of their enjoyment of the Parks system and to try and mitigate against the need for more costly intervention at a later date if this issue is not addressed.

In terms of the controlling the species in the wider countryside, I can advise that work on new invasive alien species legislation is at an advanced stage and my Department is also leading on the development of a National Management Plan for Invasive Alien Species. The new legislation will update and strengthen existing regulations, particularly with regard to the trade in invasive alien species.

In addition to supports available from other bodies such as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and via the LEADER Programme, the following initiatives are supported through my Department.

The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme operated by the NPWS provides funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, which includes addressing the issue of Invasive Alien Species (IAS).

A range of IAS projects have been undertaken through this scheme since 2019. This year, over €400,000 was awarded to Local Authorities to carry out 33 Invasive Alien Species projects. Communities groups interested in tackling IAS should make contact with their Local Biodiversity or Heritage officer.

With regards to other initiatives, the NPWS led LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project is currently developing locally-based capacity to control Rhododendron and other peatland restoration action. This initiative is called Natura Communities. Over the past three years over €2.7m has been invested in Rhododendron control across 8 Natura 2000 sites in three counties. It is hoped to expand Natura Communities to cover all large Natura 2000 sites over the coming three years.

More information can be found here: www.naturacommunities.ie.

Finally, in the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to develop and implement a National Management Plan for Invasive Alien Species. Work is currently underway on the Plan. The Plan will incorporate measures to increase awareness of invasive alien species among the public and also to put a range of biosecurity measures in place to tackle the introduction and spread of such species.