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National Parks and Wildlife Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2018

Thursday, 15 November 2018

Questions (35)

Joan Burton

Question:

35. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she and-or her officials have had contact by way of meetings or correspondence with representatives of the owners of an estate (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if so, the details of such meetings or correspondence by her or her officials, including dates regarding the acquisition of some or all of the estate, particularly the 4,000 acres of land; her views on whether such an acquisition in respect of the estate would be a fitting commemoration and memorial to all of the work of a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47411/18]

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Written answers

As outlined in my response of 18 September, Parliamentary Question No. 823, and 2 October parliamentary Question No. 69 there is no change to my Department's position. The sale and any apportionment of the property into lots is a commercial matter for the vendor.

Through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht manages a property portfolio in respect of national parks and reserves of approximately 87,000 hectares. These important biodiversity areas are located all around the country including a large area of County Wicklow, and the 5,000 hectares of lands in Glenasmole purchased in recent years. Given the limited resources available for capital investment within the National Parks and Nature Reserves, I recognise the need to focus on the core responsibilities relating to the management of the existing Parks and Reserves' lands.

While the lands in question would represent a significant addition to the stock of publicly owned heritage properties and lands, my Department could, as stressed previously, only consider acquiring this property if the price fell to within a certain range, or in the context of a donation or bequest. This is known to the Vendors. Clearly, the Glenasmole purchase of 5,000 hectares sets a precedent, and although the circumstance pertaining are very dissimilar, it is certainly a market factor. As the Deputy will no doubt appreciate, it would not be appropriate of me to seek to negotiate indirectly or publicly. Suffice it to say that I am aware of the public-good value of this property, balanced across a range of demands across my Department.

As I said in my earlier replies, my Department's relationship with the Guinness Estate here, and more generally, has been positive. It is one of mutual respect and good neighbours, and indeed often working together on shared issue of interest. These include herd management and husbandry, habitat oversight, film-making, signage, visitor accommodation, trail maintenance and designation management. Indeed, for the most part, the boundary between the private estate and the National Park is invisible to the visitor and tourist, with pre-eminence being given to the idyllic shared land, lake and mountainscape.

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