Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) will continue to fund the programme of managing and removing an invasive plant from Lough Corrib.
This will be an interim measure until a longer-term solution to Lagarosiphon major on the lake is agreed between government departments.
Cuts to staffing levels and budget of IFI threatened to sink efforts to rid Lough Corrib of the invasive pondweed.
The programme to curtail the invader, known as Curly African Pondweed, which had been in place for years, was due to expire in October.
But Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources Seán Kyne has confirmed IFI will continue to fund the programme in the short-term.
A longer-term solution to tackling the invasion is being worked on, said the Galway West TD.
He said he told a special meeting of the board of IFI in Dublin in June that the continuation of the programme for removing Lagorosiphon Major from Lough Corrib was a priority of his.
Junior Minister Kyne said: “I am pleased that the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, an agency under the remit of my Department, has decided to continue funding the current programme which involves the Office of Public Works and Galway County Council.
“This programme commenced three years ago and had been due to expire this October. However, the funding from the IFI via the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment will help secure the excellent progress achieved at tackling this aggressive, invasive plant species which was discovered in the Corrib over a decade ago.
“Tackling aquatic invasive species is under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service which is part of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht. Progress has been made in talks between the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and proposals will soon be brought to Government on the longer term plans for tackling aquatic invasive species.
“I am confident that the proposals will help establish a more structured, whole of Government approach. In the meantime, the continued funding from IFI will help ensure that we can tackle the problems caused by this non-native invasive plant in Lough Corrib.”
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