Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 4

Written Answers. - Killarney National Park Management Plan.

John O'Leary

Question:

121 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will arrange with the Office of Public Works and Killarney Urban District Council, with the aid of EU funding, for the development of part of the national park at Knockreer and the Demense, County Kerry, both adjacent to churches, schools, colleges and the town, as a model town park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13397/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

The proposals for the future development of these areas are set out in the management plan for Killarney National Park, which was published in 1990. The development scheme proposed contains the following main elements:— a major tree planting programme, with considerable irregularly patterned woodland, is to be established on the southern edge of the parkland; restoration of the internal roadway linking Knockreer and the Demesne for jaunting car, pedestrain and cycle use; the location in parkland paddocks along this roadway of rare breeds of livestock and horses, both as a visitor feature and for grassland maintenance; development of car parks at Ross Road and at Knockreer; specific landscape development of the Demesne area to the West of Killarney House and restoration of many formal features in the Demesne area, particularly in the immediate precincts of Killarney House.

The management plan also sets out the future proposals for the two large buildings in this area of the Park. Knockreer House will continue to be the main research and education centre within the national park. The use of Killarney House, together with its outbuildings and gardens, is legally reserved to Mrs. Mary McShain for her lifetime. In the future, it is intended to retain and preserve the integrity and character of the House and surrounding area, and to provide visitor access to it. However, the full implementation of these proposals must await the handing over of Killarney House to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The major tree planting programme on the southern edge of the Woodland has been completed, however, and some landscaping works have been carried out in Knockreer.

Killarney is one of the few towns in the world which can boast of having part of a national park within its boundaries. It is important, therefore, that any developments within the town area of the park is in keeping with its status as an internationally recognised national park. I consider the proposals I have outlined above to be the most appropriate in this context.

The provision of a town park in Killarney is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. While I would welcome such a development in Killarney, I do not consider it appropriate to locate it within the national park itself.