andMr. Desmond asked the Minister for Lands if the Government will consider in the national interest, and enter into negotiations with the owners of the Powerscourt Estate and the lakes Bray, Tay and Dan, County Wicklow, with a view to taking these scenic and public amenity areas into public ownership with free access to all citizens of the nation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wicklow Public Amenity Areas.
10.
My Department has no current proposals to purchase any of the estates or areas mentioned and my existing powers of acquisition as Minister for Lands would not, in any event, embrace the acquisition of land purely for public amenity purposes.
Extensive areas have, of course, already been acquired from the Powerscourt estate for forestry purposes and lands bordering on Lough Dan have also been acquired. Every opportunity will be sought to extend these and other State forest holdings when suitable land becomes available and to exploit the potential for public recreation and amenity of such lands.
May I ask the Minister if he would consider the acquisition of the property mentioned, bearing in mind the political propaganda on conservation and the fact that the public are debarred from access to these areas? After all, Fianna Fáil is a "republican" party.
I have already explained what the situation is. At the moment the Forestry Division own 75,000 acres in Wicklow, which is 15 per cent of the county, and is acquiring an additional acreage every year. These acreages offer scope for recreation.
Notwithstanding the fact that the State owns substantial lands in Wicklow, the particular loughs referred to are the preserve of private citizens and they were bought at a very low price, relatively speaking; and they, together with large sections of the Powerscourt estate, are some of the most scenic areas available. Will the Minister not put into practice his "republican" principles, if he really believes in them?
I have already explained the position.
This matter is being pursued by the Fianna Fáil county councillors and this is an attempted "lift" by the Labour Party.