Vol. 223 No. 11
asked the Minister for Lands if he can furnish information concerning provision made by the Land Commission to give unhindered access to the lake shore at Castlelough, Portroe, Nenagh, County Tipperary, when the Parker-Hutchinson Estate was being divided.
14.
asked the Minister for Lands what area of lake shore front at Castlelough, Portroe, Nenagh, was made available for public use when the Parker-Hutchinson Estate was divided; and if this land was left unfenced at the time.
15.
asked the Minister for Lands if any portion of the public stretch of land at the lake shore at Castlelough, Portroe, Nenagh, County Tipperary, has been fenced off since the division of the Parker-Hutchinson Estate; if so, by whose authority the fencing was done; if the Land Commission gave their consent to the fencing; if any portion of the land between the shore road and the lake was sold to a private individual; and if the sub-division was approved by the Land Commission.
16.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will order an inspection of the area at the lake shore at Castlelough, Portroe, Nenagh, County Tipperary, and satisfy himself that the original area allocated as a public amenity there is still intact.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 16 together.
In 1961 an area of 8¾ acres at Castlelough, along the shore of Lough Derg, was allotted by the Land Commission to the Trustees of the Portroe Branch of Muintir na Tíre for the preservation of boating and bathing facilities for the public. This plot was fenced, in part, from the adjoining lands but I am informed that it gives adequate access to the lake for the public. Other parts of this estate between the shore road and the lake were included in various other allotments. As far as the Land Commission are aware, there has been no encroachment on this allotment to Muintir na Tíre either by sale of part of it or by the erection of unauthorised fences.
On the general subject of access to beaches and other places of recreational resort, I would refer the Deputy to the replies given to Questions on 15th February and 23rd March last by the Minister for Local Government. The preservation of amenities is primarily a matter for the Planning Authorities under the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963.
