Trevor Sargent
Ceist:94 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the projects that are currently being carried out in our national parks in 1993.
Written Answers. - National Park Projects.
The following are the projects which are being carried out in the national parks in 1993:
Burren National Park
Research project involving recording of rainfall and water table levels and the quality of surface and ground-waters in the park.
Research project on phytoplankton in L. Gealaine and Knockanroe turloughs.
Research project on wildfowl in the park.
Planning of two nature trails in the park.
Completion of the visitor centre*.
Connemara National Park
Preparation of three booklets on the birds of the park, Connemara ponies and landscape development.
Work on extending a nature trail.
Completion of a management plan for the park.
Research project on bog cotton.
Glenveagh National Park
Improvements to walking facilities and guided walks.
Provision of new interpretative material at the visitor centre.
Construction of new toilet facilities at the visitor centre car-park.
Works to roof and chimneys of Glenveagh Castle.
Tree planting in the park and gardens.
Various research projects including ones on the park's birds, fish and deer.
Clearance of rhododendron.
Works to the yard and the roads to the castle.
Re-building the glass house in the gardens.
Preparation of a guide book to Glenveagh National Park.
Killarney National Park
Painting interior of cottages and railings — FAS scheme.
Rhododendron clearance.
Improvement of upland grazing for red deer.
Tree planting in the McShain Estate and Muckross House and Gardens.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Completion of the visitor centre.*
Research project to measure the impact of grazing on mountain vegetation and consequent erosion.
Research project to measure the impact of grazing on the regeneration of the oakwoods.
Removal of exotic trees, beech, conifer and rhododendron, and scrub from semi-natural woodlands.
Restoration work on the Liffey Head Bog, including blocking off existing drains.
Monitoring of fauna populations.
The above projects are in addition to the normal general management and maintenance duties undertaken throughout the year by park staff.
*Work on these visitor centres was suspended following a High Court judgment last February. One aspect of the judgment on the question of planning permission, conflicted with another recent High Court judgment on this issue. It was decided, therefore, to appeal this matter to the Supreme Court for a decision. The hearing has now taken place and a decision is expected shortly. No decision will be taken by the Government on whether to proceed with these projects until the Supreme Court's judgment is available.