Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
391. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will make available copies of the annual targeted programme in Ireland's national parks to manage the invasive species, which he has stated is carried out by his Department and is routinely monitored and adjusted with a view to ensuring optimum efficacy. [25265/14]
View answer395. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 28 May 2014, if he will provide a copy of the targeted management programme to which he made reference; and if he will provide further details of the nature of the review of current practice of available resources taking place within his Department. [25420/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 395 together.
My Department’s staff in Killarney National Park manage Rhododendron ponticum in the Park, in accordance with a long-term strategic programme. The focus of the Rhododendron management programme is reviewed and refined on an ongoing basis, so as to direct action in the most efficient and effective way to different locations in the Park, having regard to available resources and taking account of the vigorous nature of the plant.
While my Department uses internal working documents for operational purposes, the documentation is not a publication as such and would not be considered suitable for wider dissemination. However, having regard to the welcome interest in this matter, it is my intention to have details of this programme published on the Killarney National Park website as soon as it can be arranged.
In the meantime, general information on methods used for the control of Rhododendron ponticum in Killarney National Park is available on the Park website at http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/Rhododendron.htm.
