asked the Minister for Finance if there is full co-operation between the Office of Public Works and the Department of Lands in relation to national and forest parks; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National and Forest Parks.
34.
Mr. Kenny
There is co-operation between the Office of Public Works and the Department of Lands in many areas of mutual concern in relation to national parks and forest parks. When occasionally problems arise from conflicting interests they are resolved in a co-operative manner.
Some years ago there was established an inter-departmental committee which studied the question of some of the great gardens in the country as distinct from parks. What is the present position regarding that inter-departmental committee? Does it still exist?
Mr. Kenny
Yes. The committee may not exist but as far as I am informed the number of gardens, which was something in the region of 36 to 40, was whittled down to six and if the Deputy desires I will give him a list of those six gardens. It would be the objective of that branch of the Office of Public Works to take over those.
In fact, one of the gardens I am speaking of is in the possession of the Office of Public Works. I am talking about an inter-departmental committee which was established between the Office of Public Works, the Department of Lands, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and, I think, some other Departments to look into the question of some of those great gardens which exist and which are a very important part of our conservation heritage. I am wondering whether that committee still functions and, if so, with what results.
Mr. Kenny
I cannot answer that but, as the Ceann Comhairle says, I will communicate with the Deputy.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to keep in mind in considering those matters, perhaps in consultation with the Minister for Lands, the great importance of such gardens and to have some co-ordinating policy in regard to them?
Mr. Kenny
There is a policy in existence to preserve those gardens if they are offered to the nation.
You have some of them already.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary's colleague, the Minister for Lands, yet contacted him about the establishment of a national park in Glengarriff?
Mr. Kenny
The Deputy means Gougane Barra?
Glengarriff.
That is in the Deputy's constituency.
Perhaps that might be the subject of a specific question.
Mr. Kenny
I never heard even a rumour of a national park in Glengarriff.
Is that the type of co-ordination and co-operation there is in Government.
He is trying to pour oil on troubled waters.
Mr. Kenny
He is polluting the wonderful air of Garnish Island and Glengarriff and Gougane Barra too. That is only 12 miles up the mountain from Glengarriff.
I resent the Parliamentary Secretary speaking in a disparaging way about Glengarriff.