Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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213. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, given that in recent years large shoals of bream (an invasive cyprinid fish) have dominated the Maam River mouth and Hen’s Castle region of Lough Corrib SAC, it is departmental policy to continue conserving this fish in a SAC under the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish Bye-Law (No. 806) 2006, considering that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) culls bream in neighbouring Lough Mask; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29016/25]

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, given that in the past three years local stakeholders including the Ballindiff Bay Angling Club have noted an exponential growth of tench (an invasive cyprinid fish) in the Ballindiff Bay area of Lough Corrib SAC due to a recent anthropogenic introduction, it is departmental policy to continue conserving this fish in a SAC under the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish Bye-Law (No. 806) 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29017/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

Inland Fisheries Ireland, in conjunction with my Department, is carrying out a review of relevant inland fisheries bye-laws in force for 10 years or more and their continued application. The Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 is being examined as part of this work programme, which I expect to be completed later this year.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government , if the inland fisheries Division has implemented any policies to mitigate against the risk of river barrier removal becoming a catalyst for the anthropogenic spread of invasive freshwater fish species such as carp, chub, dace, roach and pike throughout the state, given that his Department is a key stakeholder in the national barriers mitigation programme developed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for Irish rivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29018/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Under the National Barriers Programme, the environmental impact of any potential barrier removal or mitigation project will be assessed by Inland Fisheries Ireland at an individual project level. Projects will be subject to the necessary environmental and planning consenting processes, where the benefits and risks associated with invasive species matters will be fully assessed and evaluated.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is the intention of his Department to continue protecting and conserving invasive freshwater fish species in Lough Corrib SAC under the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 and the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law No. 809 of 2006, considering that Invasive Species Awareness Week ran this May 12th until May 18th under the direction of the National Biodiversity Data Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29019/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 232 of 20 May 2025 regarding the status of the review of relevant inland fisheries by-laws in force for ten years or more and their continued application, in particular the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse fish By-Law No. 806 of 2006 and the Conservation of Pike By-Law No. 809 of 2006.

The position is unchanged.