Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2019
27. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will direct the National Parks and Wildlife Service to study the proposal to create a national park in the wilderness areas of Howth peninsula in view of development pressures and the 1 million visitors to the peninsula each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8549/19]
View answerIt would appear that no proposal to create a National park in the wilderness area of Howth Peninsula has been submitted to the Department. If the Deputy would like to send one into me I will have my officials examine it. However, it must be noted that all Irish National Parks are fully state-owned and meet category II of the IUCN standard for national parks. There is a minimum size associated with such designations and it is unlikely that this estate would qualify. There are no plans to designate the area in question as a National Park. Howth Head is already afforded statutory protections in respect of developments within the designated Howth Head SAC and Howth Head Coast SPA.
