Invasive Species Policy

383. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the structure of the new Invasive Species Bureau; whether it will be an agency or a unit within his Department; whether it will have its own dedicated staff; if not, if it will be comprised of existing members of the ##Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52658/26]

489. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a mink eradication programme in the Lough Derg area, similar to the initiative established in the midlands around Lough Ree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51722/26]

490. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Midlands Mink Eradication Programme; the criteria used to select this area for the pilot initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51723/26]

491. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the area covered by the Midlands Mink Eradication Programme; the volunteer groups involved and the number of volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51724/26]

492. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further Mink Eradication Programmes are being considered for other regions across Ireland; if so, the areas being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51725/26]

114. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the forthcoming National Invasive Species Management Strategy for Ireland will give due consideration to the spread of invasive African curly waterweed (lagarosiphon major) and invasive Canadian pondweed (Elodea sp.) in Lough Corrib SAC, County Galway, as referenced in the European Communities (Birds and N…

258. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on proposals from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44794/26]

1166. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the proposed ‘National Invasive Species Management Strategy for Ireland’ will take into consideration the anthropogenic spread of invasive/non-native freshwater fish throughout the jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44141/26]

696. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the newly established invasive species bureau, formed between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, and the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC), have a role in policy decisions regarding the management of invasive freshwater fish species in Lough Corrib SAC, County Galway; and if he will make…

814. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he and his Department will take to prevent the tropilaelaps mite from entering Ireland by way of importing honeybees which would have a devastating effect on the native Irish honey bee population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37585/26]

667. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of confirmed Asian Hornet nests identified in Ireland in 2025 and to date in 2026; the counties affected; and the actions taken to eradicate them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35323/26]

910. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the scientific assessment into the threats posed by imported non-native honey bees, commissioned by his Department and reportedly completed in December 2024, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35321/26]

911. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021; the reason for the delay at Stage 2 in Dáil Éireann previously; the timeframe for progressing the legislation now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35322/26]

680. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the instruction to the NPWS to consider a suite of options for the control of cherry laurel; when he expects the NPWS to report back with a determination of the most appropriate measures; whether a public consultation will be held on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29…

692. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an assessment has been carried out at national level of the impact of invasive plant species, including those affecting dune and coastal systems, on erosion and coastal protection; whether Dublin Bay and areas such as Dollymount Strand and Bull Island have been included in any such assessment; and if h…

693. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures currently in place to monitor, control and manage invasive species in coastal and dune habitats in Dublin Bay, including areas such as Dollymount Strand and Bull Island; the agencies responsible for carrying out this work, including the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and local aut…

694. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding allocated in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for the management and control of invasive species in coastal areas, including Dublin Bay, by year and programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30152/26]

695. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the national policies, strategies or programmes in place to address the spread of invasive species in coastal and dune environments; the way these are coordinated with coastal protection and climate adaptation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30153/26]

386. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the threat of invasive species on commonage land in the Cooley Mountains; the steps his Department is taking to tackle the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6849/26]

367. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review SI 374/2024 given concerns that have been raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/26]

205. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently provide a significant allocation of funding to Kerry County Council to allow them to treat/eradicate Japanese Knotweed which is spiralling out of control across the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10920/26]

692. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will be formulating plans to address the recent declaration by the EU of sika deer as an invasive species; if such a plan involves a cull of sika deer; and if so, the State agencies that will be used to assist or carry out such a cull. [9229/26]

704. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has met with stakeholders on the implication of SI 374/2024. [9679/26]

710. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage and consult with a group (details supplied) regarding S.I. No. 374/2024 - European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 on the designation of Fallow and Sika deer as invasive alien species; if he will confirm he will apply the lawful EU derogation as intended for Ireland; if he …

336. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans on including Cherry Laurel to the list of invasive alien species of national concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62695/25]