asked the Minister for Finance if he will declare the Burren in County Clare a national park; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - The Burren, County Clare.
8.
It is intended to establish a national park in the Burren in the vicinity of Mullaghmore. Approximately 400 hectares have already been acquired and further acquisitions are in progress and planned in order to create a park of the size required to meet the criteria for national parks set down by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
I think the Burren area would be very suitable for designation as a national park. I know that in 1980 the Office of Public Works were giving serious consideration to having that area declared a national park. Six years later might I have an assurance from the Minister of State that this area will be declared a national park in the very near future?
I agree with the Deputy that the Burren would make an ideal national park and we are proceeding apace. It is a matter of acquiring the necessary land with the consent of the community. We are represented on a committee set up by Clare County Council who have prepared an action plan to deal with this whole matter. I can assure the Deputy that the Commissioners of Public Works will proceed apace to achieve our objective in relation to this.
Is the Minister of State aware that Clare County Council are currently reviewing their county development plan, when this report with regard to the Burren area and the sensitivities created for small farmers in the area will have to be complied with as well? Will she ensure that her Department take this into consideration?
Certainly the Office of Public Works are represented on a committee set up by Clare County Council to prepare an action plan for the Burren as a whole. We will certainly bear that in mind.
Apart from the purchase of the land in question, would the Minister of State say whether the Office of Public Works have drawn up any plan as to the likely shape of the park, or what efforts are being made in that direction? I might also direct the Minister's attention to the fairly widespread fears now obtaining that the future of the whole Burren area may well be under threat from acid rain pollution and other hazards?
That appears to be another question, Deputy.
Has the Minister of State or the Department of Finance devised any system of monitoring the Burren area as a whole to ensure that there is no threat to it from pollution or acid rain?
If I may take the last portion of the question first, I understand that Clare County Council laid down fairly strict planning conditions in relation to Moneypoint and other issues to which I fear the Deputy may be alluding. Monitoring is being continued by them and, to my knowledge, by the ESB also.
As regards our plans for the national park, when we have acquired the land, it will be operated in accordance with international criteria on national parks. It will be kept, as far as possible, in its natural state. We will underline any outstanding natural features. Extensive size and so on and effective protection by central Government authority will be borne in mind. We will accommodate the admission of visitors and, of course, interpretation, to the best possible advantage, by visitors of the park and its surroundings, including its flora and fauna.
Is it proposed to erect any buildings in the park? Would the Minister of State say whether there is as yet any general plan?
At this stage we have acquired 400 hectares. The minimum size for a national park under international criteria is 1,000 hectares. Therefore, the Deputy will see that we have a little way to go in having the minimum amount of land acquired in order to declare it a national park. As little building as possible would be my answer in relation to building structures in our national parks which of their very nature should be maintained in their natural state. However, it is quite possible that an interpretative centre and such other visitor facilities as may be necessary may have to be erected but there are no definite plans as yet.