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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 1

Written Answers. - Establishment of National Park.

John Ellis

Question:

162 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the consideration, if any, which was given by his Department to the proposal in Leitrim County Council's document entitled, "A Framework for the Development of Leitrim", to the establishment of a national park to be known as Breffni Mountain Park, involving the designation of the mountainous area along with the Cavan/Leitrim/Fermanagh region. [22652/96]

I have asked the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department to consider the case made by Leitrim County Council in the document referred to by the Deputy.

The NPWS is currently examining the nature conservation needs of an area in the Sliabh an Iarainn-Cuilcagh range and would hope that cross-Border conservation measures can be agreed in conjunction with the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland. As this examination is still at an early stage, it is not possible to give any details of what area of land may ultimately be involved or the particular nature conservation designation that could be applied to it.
For any area in this jurisdiction to be designated as a national park it must first contain a significant range of natural or semi-natural ecosystems. It must also meet other internationally recognised criteria, such as having a minimum size of 1,000 hectares and the area must be in State ownership or under State control for management purposes. It is not clear if the area mentioned by the Deputy would meet such criteria for qualification as a national park.
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