asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if plants are being removed from the Botanic Gardens, Dublin; if so, why; and if there are any plans for the future development of the gardens.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Botanic Gardens.
24.
The fruit garden at the Botanic Gardens, which was designed over a hundred years ago, is being replaced by one designed on modern lines for student teaching, and this involved removal of old trees and plants. There is also a routine movement of plants from the quarantine station at the gardens, and exchange of plants between the gardens and other scientific institutions, public parks and well-known private gardens. Plants from the Botanic Gardens are also made available for special teaching purposes and for decorative purposes at, for example, exhibitions and important functions.
As regards the second part of the question, the improvement of the gardens is kept continuously under review and, in fact, many new features have been developed in recent years, for example, a new fern garden has been constructed, parts of the rock garden have been re-designed and the lawn gardens and other parts have been improved.
Is it the Minister's intention to remove plants from their present site in the Botanic Gardens to the Kennedy Memorial Park in Wexford?
A number of plants may no longer be required or may become unnecessary. In some cases, such plants have been removed to this park or arboretum in Wexford.
Would 50 per cent of the plants in the Botanic Gardens be involved?
I would not think so at all.
Is it true to say that one third of the plants have been taken out of the Botanic Gardens?
Plants were going and coming in the Botanic Gardens for years before the Deputy and I were born and I presume they will be going and coming after we are gone as well.