asked the Minister for Finance if he will now arrange for the provision of camping facilities for young people in the National Park in Killarney, County Kerry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Camping Facilities.
24.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply on 10th April, 1975, to a similar question tabled by him. It is neither necessary nor appropriate that overnight camping facilities should be provided in the National Park. This is a service normally provided by private enterprise and I am aware that there is a number of privately owned camping sites in the Killarney area.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that representations were made to the Department by the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Camping Association of Ireland for facilities for young people in the National Park in Killarney?
The commissioners feel that this is not a desirable development. The people in the Killarney district have a substantial investment in their private parks such as the provision of toilets, water and other facilities which would not be available in the National Park. In my opinion we would be downgrading the National Park if we allowed camping by these people in the park because the general public would feel they should have the same rights.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the deed of trust which conveyed lands in Killarney to the State provided that a certain amount of this property should be made available for the youth? The National Youth Council of Ireland feel that the best way this property could be made available for the young people would be to provide camping facilities in the park. Local enterprise has no objection to the provision of camping facilities there.
If these facilities were made available to the National Youth Council of Ireland the general public would have a right to the same facilities if they wished to camp in the park. We are not geared for that type of camping in Killarney, as the Deputy knows. People have invested a substantial amount of money in private schemes and it would be wrong to deprive them of their livelihood now.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary have regard to the portion of the deed of trust under which this property was conveyed to the State which stated specifically that portion of this property should be made available for the youth?
The Deputy has already asked that question.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to state why he thinks it inappropriate that special camping facilities should be made available for young people in a national park?
What about St. Stephen's Green?
I believe there was camping there at one time and there was widespread damage to the flora and the fauna. There was also a danger of fire all the time. The commissioners advise me—and I accept their advice—that if one group were allowed in there the general public would feel that they had the same right.
I am at a loss to understand why the Parliamentary Secretary does not include young people as part of the general public. I want him to explain that.
I did not say that.
What did the Parliamentary Secretary say?