{"id":623719,"date":"2026-09-13T20:18:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T20:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/623719\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T20:18:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T20:18:11","slug":"county-council-begins-work-on-noxious-weeds-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/623719\/","title":{"rendered":"County Council begins work on noxious weeds strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

James Varley<\/a> 13 September 2026<\/p>\n

Galway County Council has begun work on a strategy for controlling the spread of noxious weeds in Galway.<\/p>\n

The project will be lead by the Councils biodiversity officer and aims to guide both the Council and members of the public in dealing with these weeds.<\/p>\n

A noxious weed is a plant species designated by authorities as a danger to agriculture, horticulture, habitats, or humans in some cases.<\/p>\n

Independent Councillor for Athenry-Oranmore, Martin McNamara said that “one of the first big plans or strategies that came in front of me after I was co-opted onto the council was the biodiversity and heritage strategy. One of my first observations that there was zero mention of noxious weeds within that strategy.”<\/p>\n

“Under Irish legislation, every landowner has a legal responsibility, to ensure the control and the prevention of noxious weeds’ growth and spread on their lands.”<\/p>\n

Cllr McNamara says the council can’t “kick the can down the road” any longer on this issue:<\/p>\n

“We are doing nothing and we are causing damage. A do-nothing approach does not serve biodiversity, and it does not serve our communities. In the long run, the do-nothing approach is going to have a detrimental impact on biodiversity, and it is going to cost the municipal district more money to rectify in the long run.”<\/p>\n

Under the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936, it is an offence for owners and occupiers of land not to prevent the spread of weeds specified by the Minister for Agriculture.<\/p>\n

The strategy will analyse how Galway County Council deals with noxious weeds in the future. Guidance for members of the public on how to deal with their spread will also be put in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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