Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
620. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether staffing levels are adequate to manage the spread of rhododendron and control deer numbers in Killarney National Park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8137/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement of invasive species such as Rhododendron Ponticum and management of deer within Killarney National Park are two of a large number of actions and interventions carried out by field staff of my Department on an ongoing basis. Of my Department’s total staff, I understand that some 330 work in the area of natural heritage through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department. In addition, my Department takes on in the region of 70 seasonal staff during the year to assist the NPWS. Frontline conservation Rangers are deployed through a regional structure and assignments are determined in light of Departmental business needs and priorities.
Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Within this staffing context, in addition to conservation management work such as the activities mentioned by the Deputy, officials of my Department carry out scientific research, survey work and monitor compliance with national and European law in relation to nature conservation across the country. They conduct patrols and site visits to enforce the various provisions of national and EU legislation, as required, and many of these officers carry out work in more than one county. They also investigate, for example, reports of breaches of legislation including illegal snaring or ‘digging out’ of badgers, as well monitoring compliance at coursing events etc.
With specific regard to the issues of rhododendron and deer management raised by the Deputy, my Department is committed to addressing such activities and has robust management programmes in place. Killarney National Park is managed on an ongoing and proactive basis by experienced NPWS regional management, in line with IUCN principles, the Wildlife Act and EU Law with regard to habitats and species.
My Department has for many years pursued a very vigorous multi-faceted approach to the control of Rhododendron in Killarney National Park. The strategy and programmes forming our approach to tackling this invasive species are based upon sound science and are subject to monitoring, periodic review and adaptation. The Department is committed to continuing this work with ongoing monitoring and review importantly ensuring it is informed by scientific basis. In 2017 the Department spent nearly €300,000, a significant portion of its national budget, on the eradication of rhododendron in Killarney National Park.
The Department has in its employ a number of specialist staff - including one person specifically dedicated full time to its rhododendron management programme - who advise and report on the rhododendron management in Killarney National Park. In the past, approximately 3,000 of the over 10,000 hectares in Killarney National Park were, to some extent, affected. The Department remains of the opinion that the existing management programme has made significant inroads into the problem with approximately. 2,000 of the 3,000 hectares, involving some 40 different sites, under effective control.
The on-going programme of works, at this time, is comprised of four primary elements:
1. the initial clearance and follow-up maintenance work by contractors;
2. on-going maintenance work by volunteers and students;
3. a Rhododendron eradication management contract; and,
4. on-going work by NPWS staff including co-ordination, research, and monitoring.
With regard to deer, the Deputy will be aware that my Department staff proactively manage the deer population within the National Park on an ongoing basis as part of their regular, routine conservation management practices. There is a significant challenge in attempting to balance the demands of agriculture, forestry and conservation with the need to ensure that deer populations occupying the same land resources are managed at sustainable levels, and in a responsible and ethical manner. Ultimately, however, where deer species are increasing in range and numbers, depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats (especially woodland), culls need to be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences. The Deputy will be aware my Department’s regional NPWS staff have conducted several such culls in recent years.
