Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1178. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the budget, staffing, and operational plan of the newly formed Asian Hornet Management Group; the timelines for implementation, public outreach campaigns, and inter-departmental coordination mechanisms. [45356/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1180. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the specific strategies and resources being mobilised following the recent Asian hornet sighting in County Cork to both eradicate potential nests and safeguard biodiversity, the honeybee population and the substantial economic impact experienced elsewhere in Europe. [45374/25]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide full details on his Department's response to eliminate Asian hornets which a threat to all native Irish pollinators, including honeybees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46506/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1259. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the immediate and medium-term biosecurity actions, beekeeper guidance, public reporting protocols and funding for surveillance and eradication of the Asian hornet in Munster for the next 12-months given confirmation of an Asian hornet nest in Cork. [46516/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1262. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to detail the operational plan, budget and timelines for eradication, surveillance and public communications following the first confirmed Asian hornet nest in Cork city, including the role of Cork City Council and beekeeper networks; and if weekly situation updates for August–October 2025 will be published. [46607/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1178, 1180, 1257, 1259 and 1262 together.

Asian Hornets pose a significant threat to biodiversity in Ireland as even a single nest can devastate honeybee populations. My Department responded rapidly to a confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet in Cork last month.

The Asian Hornet Management Group is a rapid interdepartmental response resource mobilised and established to ensure that all the relevant experts are working closely together in a swift and efficient manner. Chaired by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it includes experts from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the National Museum of Ireland.

Survey teams, including the local NPWS conservation rangers, have been on site monitoring the situation and engaging with businesses, local communities and stakeholders in the area to raise awareness on how to identify Asian Hornet.

These coordinated efforts were undertaken to deal with the immediate threat posed by the arrival of Asian Hornet. Medium-term actions will be carefully developed pending the outcome of this first phase where eradication is the key objective. The immediate threat has now been managed, however our teams are continuing to follow up on every reported sighting

The response to the situation is measured, science-based, and benefits from the hard-won experience of our neighbours in the UK and the Channel Islands. Early detection and swift action give us the best chance to protect Ireland’s pollinators and ecosystems from this invasive species.