Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 5

Written Answers. - Burren National Park.

Tony Killeen

Ceist:

54 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of staff currently employed at the Burren National Park, County Clare; the area of responsibility of each staff member; and if he intends to increase the staff complement. [16878/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

At present there are two people employed in the Burren National Park. They are the park manager, who is also deputy regional manager of the Mid-Western Region of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and a park ranger. One other park ranger resigned recently and the resulting vacancy will be filled in due course.

The park manager is responsible for the management of the park in accordance with the criteria and objectives for national parks. The park rangers have a range of habitat protection, species monitoring and other duties consistent with the proper management of a national park.

A draft management plan for the park was published earlier this year and will be finalised in the near future.

There are no plans at present to increase the staff complement.