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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Plea for Irish army to fight 'aggressive' rhododendrons | Plea for Irish army to fight 'aggressive' rhododendrons |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Irish army should be called in to do battle with rhododendrons because the plants are "taking over" a national park, the government has been told. | The Irish army should be called in to do battle with rhododendrons because the plants are "taking over" a national park, the government has been told. |
| The invasion of the "aggressive" plant was raised in the Dáil (Irish parliament) by the colourful County Kerry politician, Michael Healy-Rae. | The invasion of the "aggressive" plant was raised in the Dáil (Irish parliament) by the colourful County Kerry politician, Michael Healy-Rae. |
| He claimed "we are losing the war" against overgrown rhododendrons in Killarney National Park. | He claimed "we are losing the war" against overgrown rhododendrons in Killarney National Park. |
| He also said the park's deer population had "exploded" in recent years. | He also said the park's deer population had "exploded" in recent years. |
| The Kerryman claimed the park was being neglected by the authorities and pleaded with Regional Economic Development Minister Michael Ring to allocate more resources to its maintenance. | The Kerryman claimed the park was being neglected by the authorities and pleaded with Regional Economic Development Minister Michael Ring to allocate more resources to its maintenance. |
| "The rhododendron situation in Killarney National Park has become so bad that nothing short of calling in the army is going to put it right," said Mr Healy-Rae. | "The rhododendron situation in Killarney National Park has become so bad that nothing short of calling in the army is going to put it right," said Mr Healy-Rae. |
| 'Invasive species' | 'Invasive species' |
| Rhododendrons are a non-native shrub that can grow taller than 25ft (8m) if they are not controlled. | Rhododendrons are a non-native shrub that can grow taller than 25ft (8m) if they are not controlled. |
| Mr Healy-Rae requested a Dáil debate on the issue, in which he warned the plants were "taking over completely, despite programmes of work over the years to cut them". | Mr Healy-Rae requested a Dáil debate on the issue, in which he warned the plants were "taking over completely, despite programmes of work over the years to cut them". |
| The minister admitted that the management of the "aggressive rhododendron is a long-standing, ongoing programme in the national park". | The minister admitted that the management of the "aggressive rhododendron is a long-standing, ongoing programme in the national park". |
| However, Mr Ring rejected the suggestion that the government had neglected the public facility or its flowery foreign foes. | However, Mr Ring rejected the suggestion that the government had neglected the public facility or its flowery foreign foes. |
| "My department has invested heavily in tackling this invasive species, the control of which is difficult, costly and labour-intensive," he said. | "My department has invested heavily in tackling this invasive species, the control of which is difficult, costly and labour-intensive," he said. |
| Mr Ring added that more than 700,000 euros (£590,000) had been spent on rhododendron clearance in Killarney National Park over the past six years. | Mr Ring added that more than 700,000 euros (£590,000) had been spent on rhododendron clearance in Killarney National Park over the past six years. |
| He said this work had made "significant inroads into the problem". | He said this work had made "significant inroads into the problem". |
| 565% red deer increase | 565% red deer increase |
| The minister added that his department was working on an "updated strategic rhododendron management plan" and had appointed a "specialist" to assist with the shrub situation. | The minister added that his department was working on an "updated strategic rhododendron management plan" and had appointed a "specialist" to assist with the shrub situation. |
| In respect of the exploding deer, Mr Healy-Rae referred to a 2008 study which he said was the most up to date he could find. | In respect of the exploding deer, Mr Healy-Rae referred to a 2008 study which he said was the most up to date he could find. |
| This research, he said, showed red deer numbers had "increased by 565%" over a 30-year period while and the sika deer population had risen by 353%. | This research, he said, showed red deer numbers had "increased by 565%" over a 30-year period while and the sika deer population had risen by 353%. |
| Mr Ring said staff from his department are "currently undertaking a cull of deer" in the national park. | Mr Ring said staff from his department are "currently undertaking a cull of deer" in the national park. |
| The cull, which is due to end next month, followed a "comprehensive survey" on the park's deer population carried out at the end of last year. | The cull, which is due to end next month, followed a "comprehensive survey" on the park's deer population carried out at the end of last year. |
| Mr Healy-Rae is not the first person to issue warnings over the Republic of Ireland's rhododendron invasion. | |
| In 2014, a couple in their 50s had to be rescued after they became trapped in "treacherous" rhododendron forest on an Irish mountainside. | |
| It took search teams five hours to reach the couple from the Knockmealdowns Mountains, on the border between County Waterford and County Tipperary. |