Council ‘at war’ with knotweed

TRANSPORT Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are funding a four year Kerry County Council project to rid most major Kerry roads of Japanese Knotweed.

It is also planned to make eradication of the invasive weed from any sites a condition of planning permission.

On Monday councillors were briefed on the local authority’s efforts to address the problem posed by Japanese Knotweed.

The plant is one of 116 invasive species deemed a high risk to the environment by the Department of The Environment. Japanese Knotweed – introduced to Ireland in the 19th century as an ornamental plant – is primarily a concern because it is capable of getting through cracks in foundations and walls, potentially causing serious damage to properties.

Its presence can also have serious implications for the potential sellers and buyers of houses.

Following the success of a pilot spraying scheme in Kells in 2014 the council rolled out a more extensive spraying programme across the county.

Last year TII funded treatment works to get rid of the weed on the N21,N22, N69, N70, N71 and N86 and this funding is to be continued until 2018.

In addition to a countywide advertising campaign – using roadside signage to alert the public to the plant – briefing information on Japanese Knotweed has been sent to over 6,000 landowners in the county.

As a result of the campaign the council say they are getting around four calls a week alerting them to the presence of Knotweed in various areas.

Cllr Michael Cahill – who called for the council to “declare war” on Knotweed – tabled a motion suggesting that an Invasive Weed Survey be made a condition of planning permission as is the case in the UK, France and Germany. He said such surveys typically cost around €300.