John Ellis
Ceist:331 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the action, if any, being taken by his Department in relation to the outbreak of banded pine weevil in the north-west. [24411/96]
Written Answers. - Banded Pine Weevil.
The forest service in my Department has recently confirmed that evidence of the occurrence of the small banded pine weevil, pissodes castaneus, has been found in four different clearfelled pine stands, three of which are in County Sligo and one in County Donegal. Pissodes has also been recently recorded in County Fermanagh. This insect has not previously been found in Ireland. Under the Plant Health Director 77/93/EEC, the island of Ireland has a special protected zone status with regard to European species of pissodes.
In accordance with the forestry plant health contingency plan and EU requirements, a special intensive national survey of forests is currently being carried out by the forestry inspectorate to establish the extent of the insect's occurrence. Pending the outcome of the survey, and a full review, the movement of logs from the four forests in question has been prohibited. The position in general is being actively monitored by the forestry inspectorate, which is in regular contact with its counterparts in Northern Ireland.