asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he will grant-aid county councils to enable them to provide forest walks, picnic areas and viewing stands in areas of scenic amenity; if he will state the amount his Department spent on these matters during the financial years 1983, 1984 and 1985; and if he will make a statement setting out Government policy in this area.
Written Answers. - Forest Amenities.
31.
It is not a function of my Department to grant-aid county councils for the development of facilities in scenic amenity areas nor are there funds available to me for that purpose.
The amount expended by my Department on State forest amenity work (i.e. forest parks, picnic sites, nature trails) in 1983, 1984 and 1985 was £903,000, £982,000 and £900,000 respectively.
The Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department, as part of its open forest policy, has already developed close to 400 open forest areas, 11 forest parks, one arboretum at the John F. Kennedy Park, some 18 nature trails and a forest chalet development in Killykeen Forest Park, County Cavan. These amenities contain a number of picnic sites, walks and nature trails.