Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1290. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will implement measures at least in the special areas of conservation for which the species is a qualifying interest with the goal of improving the bad overall status of the freshwater pearl mussel to be in compliance with the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9322/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe freshwater pearl mussel is a species that is very sensitive to water quality and to land use management that may impact on the rivers in which it lives.
It is therefore essential that measures to improve status are developed and implemented with the cooperation of landowners, farmers, foresters and water users, and the Government Departments and Agencies, and Local Authorities that provide the policy, monitoring, planning and regulation that impacts on water.
My Department works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), the Environment Protection Agency and the Local Authorities Water Programme, and others, towards improved status for the pearl mussel.
For the past 5 years my Department has operated the KerryLIFE project, co-funded with the EU, which is researching and trialling measures with the full involvement of farmers and foresters, to reduce impacts of farming and forestry in two of the top catchments for the mussel in Ireland.
I am pleased that the Department of Agriculture has built very extensively on the work of KerryLIFE by developing the Pearl Mussel Project, which seeks to improve the quality of watercourses in the top eight catchments for pearl mussel in Ireland, working with farmers in a results–based approach.
My Department will as soon as possible, given the Covid restrictions, launch a new Integrated Project under the EU LIFE programme, called LIFE Wild Atlantic Nature, which includes further mussel conservation work among its targets.
Finally, my Department will work closely with DHPLG on their “Waters of LIFE “ Integrated Project which can also yield improvements for mussel habitat in rivers.
