Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
20. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he is taking to promote and provide public access to State controlled lands designated as being of scientific interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38415/13]
View answerMy Department manages 6 National Parks and 78 Nature Reserves, 66 of which are in State ownership. The National Parks and the State-owned Reserves are open to the public all year round and are free to visit.
My Department’s network of National Parks and Nature Reserves is also a major part of Ireland’s tourism product. My Department is promoting the greater use of our parks and reserves in a manner which is compatible with conservation and protection of their biodiversity.
My Department will continue to develop visitor facilities where resources allow, such as walking and cycling routes, enhanced signage and interpretation. In recent years, my Department has opened modern visitor centres at Ballycroy National Park, Co. Mayo, and Clara Bog Nature Reserve, Co. Offaly, as well as a visitor information point for the Burren National Park in Corofin, Co. Clare.
Killarney House in Killarney National Park is currently undergoing a major refurbishment to transform it into the main visitor and interpretative centre for the National Park with a focus on interpreting the Park's natural wealth. This is a major project for my Department and involves collaboration with OPW as project managers and Fáilte Ireland, which has committed funding of €5.2 million towards the project, under its Tourism Investment Programme.
There are also approximately 750 national monuments in my ownership or guardianship, including Newgrange, the Rock of Cashel, and Kilmainham Gaol. The day-to-day operation of these national monuments is carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW). National monument sites are, in general, freely accessible to the public and in many cases, dedicated visitor services, interpretive facilities and guided tours are available. Information about visitor services at national monuments is available on the OPW’s heritage services website at www.heritageireland.ie .
Finally, it should be noted that many areas identified as being of scientific interest, such as Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas, are on private land. My Department works with many stakeholders in caring for, and raising awareness of, the importance of these areas. For example, the joint efforts of my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and local community interests were recognised last week in the presentation, by the Council of Europe, of Ireland's first European Diploma of Protected Areas to the Burren in County Clare. The Burren includes both State-owned and private lands.
