asked the Minister for Lands if his Department has been approached regarding the future of the Nire Valley area, County Waterford, as a natural scenic amenity open to all residents of the area and to tourists who wish to use it as a centre for ponyriding, fishing, hillwalking and other recreations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Preservation of Scenic Area.
32.
The Forestry Division of my Department have already granted permission for limited access to their plantations in the Nire Valley area for walking and pony trekking. No approach regarding the further opening up of the area to residents and to tourists has been received, but it is our settled policy to open up such area to access by the public according as the plantations reach an appropriate stage of development. The area is one in which the State Forests have a definite amenity and recreational potential which it is hoped to exploit at the earliest feasible stage.