Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1082.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action that has been taken by his Department to limit the spread of the invasive species rhododendron in Ireland given the damage to national parks and to other habitats; the amount of funding that is available for local communities to tackle this species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32005/24]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1084.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action taken by his Department to limit the spread of the invasive species rhododendron in Ireland given the damage to national parks; the amount of funding that is available for local communities to tackle this species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32008/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1082 and 1084 together.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), of my Department, continues to invest heavily in tackling the spread of invasive species across our network of National Parks. The effects of Rhododendron ponticum is well documented both in our National Parks and also in other sites across Ireland. Addressing the impacts of this invasive species is of utmost importance to the NPWS.

The control of Rhododendron ponticum is difficult, costly, and labour intensive, but is seen as a vital priority for restoring and rehabilitating habitats and ecosystems. The NPWS carries out an annual targeted programme of works across a number of sites to manage the spread and this includes monitoring, surveillance, clearance, investigation and reviews.

Across the National Parks, the scale of the problem varies. In Wicklow Mountains National Park, for example, there are relatively few isolated areas containing Rhododendron ponticum. Meanwhile, large areas in other Parks such as Connemara National Park and Killarney National Park have extensive, long-term infestations.

In Killarney National Park, efforts to control Rhododendron ponticum have been ongoing over the last 40 years with a variety of partners. Over this period a tremendous amount of work has been carried out by volunteers, contractors and staff, with methods of treatment evolving and changing as new developments have come along.

The NPWS aims to achieve a target of 750 hectares of Rhododendron clearance work annually. Almost €1.5m has been allocated for invasive species control in 2024, the vast majority of this aimed at the management and eradication of Rhododendron ponticum. This level of investment is expected to increase in the coming years as the NPWS attempts to bring the infestations of this invasive species under control in the Parks.

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:

As the above demonstrates, my Department is committed to investing in tackling the issue of Rhododendron ponticum and addressing the negative effect this invasive species has on nature in Ireland.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1083.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has considered banning the sale of the invasive plant rhododendrons in garden centres and supermarkets as part of a nationwide effort to tackle the spread of this plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32007/24]

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. In addition to national legislation, EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species also provides for a range of concerted EU wide measures to be taken with respect to listed species of Union concern (the 'Union list').

Rhododendron ponticum is listed as an invasive alien species of national concern on the Third Schedule to the Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011.

My Department will introduce new dedicated invasive alien species regulations in the coming weeks. These new regulations will make it an offence to place listed invasive alien species, including Rhododendron ponticum, on the market for sale or exchange.

My Department will announce further details on these important new regulations in due course.