It comes from a new Journal Investigates report.
Over €200,000 has been spent by Midlands local authorities on tackling invasive plants in the space of four years.
Between July 2020 and August 2024, Laois County Council spent over €110,000 on the issue, and in Offaly, the council spent more than €102,000.
Westmeath has yet to provide final figures for its 2024 spend on plant control.
Laois and Offaly councils spent more than funding received on invasive species.
Funding shortfalls were made up from each council's internal funds, while Westmeath did not provide any data for any of the years.
The report, published by The Journal Investigates, states €8.5 million has been spent by councils nationally on invasive species of plants, with an average of €1.7 million going to the cause annually.
Author of the report, nature reporter Anthea Lacchia, says this is a problem around the world:
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