asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the Office of Public Works have refused Galway County Council permission to locate a reservoir adjacent to the existing reservoir at the National Park, Letterfrack, for the purpose of serving Letterfrack, Tully, regional water scheme, County Galway; if he is aware of the severe water shortage in this area and the many years delay in the provision of a water scheme which the Office of Public Works decision has caused; and if he will have a full investigation carried out with a view to permitting the reservoir to be located adjacent to the existing reservoir.
Written Answers. - Letterfrack (Galway) Reservoir.
37.
Connemara National Park is one of the country's three national parks and one of approximately 1,000 such parks in the world which are included in the United Nations list of national parks and protected areas. To retain this status it is necessary to manage the park in such a way as to conserve the natural features and, under conditions compatible with that purpose, to provide for appreciation of them by the visiting public.
The proposed reservoir would have a major detrimental impact on Connemara National Park and, having investigated the matter fully, the Commissioners of Public Works could not agree to the county council's application. I feel that the solution to the water supply problem in Letterfrack will have to be found outside the confines of the national park.