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National Parks

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Questions (338)

Michael Ring

Question:

338. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the name of Ballycroy National Park was changed to Wild Nephin National Park; the name of the person or body that made this decision; if he will restore the name of the park to its original name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44041/21]

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Written answers

The decision to retitle this National Park is predicated upon the recent significant expansion in size of the park and the fact that some two-thirds of the area of the park is in fact outside of Ballycroy. The new name provides a clearer indication and reflection of the entire landscape, which fully represents this unique  area on an international platform with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognition for Ireland's sixth National Park.

My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is deeply committed to the development of the National Park in Mayo. As you will be aware from your own time with this portfolio; in December 2017, NPWS announced the expansion of Ballycroy National Park to include the area known as Wild Nephin. This expansion increased the total size of the Park to over 15,000 hectares of the Nephin Beg Mountain range, which included a private acquisition of 1,200 acres at Altnabrockey. This expansion of the National Park was the result of a long-standing collaborative project between Coillte and the NPWS, and consequently some 65% of state owned lands in the Park are now outside of the Ballycroy catchment area.

Of the National Park's 15,000 hectares, circa 33% is in the parish of Ballycroy, 26% in the parish of Kiltane (Bangor Erris, Ballymunnelly, Bellacorick areas) and approximately 20% is in the parish of Burrishoole (Newport, Mulranny, Srahmore), and 20% in the parish of Crossmoline (Derra, Tubrid and Keenagh).  Included in the above is the 4,200 hectares leased from Coillte and the acquisition at Altnabrocky, all of which is not within the parish of Ballycroy.

The new name is intended to assist the integration of the original park and the newly acquired land fully into the Nephin Beg mountain range in the North Mayo landscape, to integrate with all the communities in the townlands which make up the park and to provide a clearer indication of the location to tourists, reducing confusion, especially in terms of the Nephin Wilderness area.

In this context, it should be noted that the official state-of-the-art visitors centre for the National Park remains in Ballycroy village, and my Department is currently developing proposals in conjunction with  Mayo County Council and Failte Ireland to upgrade and invest in this area, including examining the potential for a Planetarium and Observatory to complement the National Park’s designation as a gold-tier Dark Sky park. The location of the Visitor facility in Ballycroy village and the associated walks and educational facilities, which attract  visitors to Ballycroy, will remain on all road signage in the region as we continue to grow the visitor numbers annually into both the parish of Ballycroy and the wider north Mayo region with the support of Mayo County Council.

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