This is a subscriber-only article
Over half of complaints about noxious weeds, the most serious of which in Ireland is ragwort, related to farmland over the past 10 years, new data from the Department of Agriculture shows.
In the period from 2014 to 2023, a total of 198 complaints were made about noxious weeds. Some 56% of these related to agricultural land.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said farmers are obliged to keep their lands free from noxious weeds, such as ragwort.
“Failure to do so can result in the application of a reduction of their payment entitlement. Modern farming has reached a level of specialisation and intensification which makes weed control a fundamental and automatic practice.
Programme of treatment
“My Department also continues to engage with all county councils, local authorities and the National Roads Authority to ensure a consistent programme of treatment and disposal of such weeds on an ongoing basis,” he said in response to a parliamentary question from Dublin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
Under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936, the Department of Agriculture has responsibility for the control and prevention of the spread of certain noxious weeds.
Ragwort, thistle, dock, common barberry, male wild hop and wild oat are currently listed in the Noxious Weeds Act.
No prosecutions have been taken under the act in recent years.
SHARING OPTIONS: