Any outbreak of bark beetle disease in Ireland would pose a serious risk to the €2bn forestry and timber industry, which supports some 9,400 direct and indirect jobs. “Research in the UK showed that the bark beetle flew or was blown across from the continent. “We have learned that the most important thing to do is find and remove bark beetles as quickly as possible. “Bark beetle surveillance is the major focus of the annual forest surveillance programme,” he said. Mr Healy-Rae said a common pathway for bark beetles was the transport of logs with bark attached.

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2026 00:01 UTC