Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2018
261. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans her Department has for the treatment of and eradication of Japanese knotweed throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38929/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species.
In law, control of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed is a matter in the first instance, for landowners. In this regard, my Department carries out considerable work on controlling invasive species in National Parks and Nature Reserves but has neither the legal ambit nor the resources required to extend such work into urban areas or the wider countryside.
There is significant work, however, being carried out at present by a range of agencies in this area, including a number of local authorities. In addition, the Management of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS), launched in 2016 and led by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, is a €5.5 million project aimed at managing invasive knotweed and other non-native invasive plant species on the national road network and its interactions with regional roads. The project involves collaboration with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Information on general management approaches to invasive plant species is available from the Invasive Species Ireland website:
http://invasivespeciesireland.com/toolkit/invasive-plant-management/.
