Questions

76. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the harm to the environment caused by the Asian hornet; and if he will instruct his Department to investigate the issue and ensure the population of this invasive species is under control. [50686/25]

378. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Statutory Instrument No. 374 of 2024, European Union (invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024, are retrospective to before the date of the statutory instrument or S.I.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49931/25]

390. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a comprehensive review of the national list of invasive alien species is needed before adding a single species, such as Cherry Laurel, given that it has been identified as high-impact by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Coillte, and the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversit…

391. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the process by which species are added to the national list under the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50324/25]

392. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Part 3 (12) of the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024, which allows the Minister to impose immediate restrictions on invasive alien species not on the EU list if preliminary scientific evidence suggests the species is present or at imminent risk of entering the State, and is likely to meet the criteria…

393. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grounds on which Cherry Laurel has not yet been listed as an invasive alien species of national concern, despite repeated recommendations from Ireland's leading environmental and biodiversity bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50326/25]

264. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1239 of 8 September 2025, the reason a comprehensive review of the entire List of National Concern under the 2024 invasive alien species is required when the purpose of the new list is to give EU Member States the discretion to add species where scientific evidence demands it; the exact process…

659. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the second confirmed Asian hornet nest in Cobh, the immediate and medium-term measures being funded for surveillance and nest eradication in Cork Harbour and adjacent districts; the guidance being issued to beekeepers and the public; and the KPI targets for the detection-to-destruction time and survey coverage that will …

664. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dates the Asian hornet nests in Cork were discovered; the dates that the nests were destroyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48269/25]

1178. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the budget, staffing, and operational plan of the newly formed Asian Hornet Management Group; the timelines for implementation, public outreach campaigns, and inter-departmental coordination mechanisms. [45356/25]

1180. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific strategies and resources being mobilised following the recent Asian hornet sighting in County Cork to both eradicate potential nests and safeguard biodiversity, the honeybee population and the substantial economic impact experienced elsewhere in Europe. [45374/25]

1257. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide full details on his Department's response to eliminate Asian hornets which a threat to all native Irish pollinators, including honeybees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46506/25]

1259. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the immediate and medium-term biosecurity actions, beekeeper guidance, public reporting protocols and funding for surveillance and eradication of the Asian hornet in Munster for the next 12-months given confirmation of an Asian hornet nest in Cork. [46516/25]

1262. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the operational plan, budget and timelines for eradication, surveillance and public communications following the first confirmed Asian hornet nest in Cork city, including the role of Cork City Council and beekeeper networks; and if weekly situation updates for August–October 2025 will be published. [46607/25]

492. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a site has extensive growth of an invasive species, and the landowner deliberately and recklessly disrupts and spreads the contaminated soil onto neighbouring properties, public footpath road; other sites, then, what does it take for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to take action to investigate and enforce relev…

493. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policies in place that local authorities must comply with and enforce when a site with a planning application has significant non-native invasive species growth, specifically Japanese knotweed; the responsibilities of the planning authority for planning applications for such sites; the person or body responsible for en…

494. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a site has extensive growth of invasive species, the conditions or stipulations that must be applied to the granting of permission prior to commencement of construction such as, should a knotweed management plan be mandated prior to construction especially when an expert report submission advocates for one. [31812/25]

115. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he has taken to help farmers address noxious and invasive species such as hogweed, ragwort, Japanese knotweed, rhododendron ponticum affecting their lands; and if he will introduce a public information campaign to highlight this matter. [13466/25]

309. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many Ministerial consents (ARC 02 stocking or re-stocking of fish) have been issued to Inland Fisheries Ireland under S.I. No. 545/2018 - European Union Habitats (Lough Arrow Special Area of Conservation) Regulations 2018 for the re-stocking of invasive pike into Lough Arrow SAC during stock management operations; and if he …

441. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the strategy of his Department in tackling the growth of rhododendron ponticum, working with concerned landowners; and if his Department has prosecuted landowners who reject assistance and allow this invasive species to impact on adjoining land holdings. [13411/25]

565. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what measures he is taking to address invasive species in Killarney National Park (details supplied). [2134/25]

566. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the amount spent on addressing invasive species, broken down by national park, in each of the years from 2019 to date, in tabular form. [2135/25]

567. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the amount spent on addressing rhododendron species, broken down by national park, in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [2136/25]

776. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on plans to ensure that cherry laurel which has been removed from the Glen of the Downs does not regrow in areas that have been cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1285/25]

777. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on when the work to eradicate all remaining cherry laurel from the Glen of the Downs will take place; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1286/25]