Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 3

Written Answers. - County Mayo National Park.

Enda Kenny

Question:

113 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the present position with regard to the completion of consultants reports and proceeding to the next stage of provision of a national park in the Nephin Beg range, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Dempsey)

Consultants were commissioned by the Office of Public Works and Mayo County Council in February of this year to carry out a study on the conservation of the natural heritage in north west Mayo. They have been asked to indicate whether part of that area would merit the status of national park as defined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Because of the scale of the area involved and the need for proper consultation with all the interested parties the study will take twelve months to complete. I, therefore, expect the consultants report to be ready by February 1995. A decision on the boundaries and the classification of the park in County Mayo will then be made.

The Office of Public Works National Parks and Wildlife Service already owns approximately 5,000 hectares in this part of Mayo. In addition to this and in parallel with the national park study, my officials are considering offers by landowners in north west Mayo to sell over 10,000 hectares of land for conservation to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A decision on the offer of these substantial holdings will be made shortly when the available finances have been reviewed.