Vol. 518 No. 6
452 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the person or body responsible for the provision of dustbins and the collection of their contents in Killarney National Park, in the vicinity of Ross Castle and the demesne; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12774/00]
Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, is responsible for the management of Killarney National Park including Ross Castle and the demesne. In relation to refuse control, experience has shown that the more dustbins that are provided, especially at carparks, the greater the amount of rubbish which is deposited and which is strewn around a site. Accordingly, as a general principle dustbins are not provided in national parks but as part of their duties the caretakers at Ross Castle and at the Visitor Centre at Gearhameen, Black Valley, also known as Lord Brandon's cottage, gather up litter etc. as appropriate.
I understand that refuse bins are provided by the trustees of Muckross House Ltd. for their own operations at the restaurant and craft shop beside Muckross House. One of the conditions of contract stipulates that the concessionaires of the tea-rooms at Dinis Cottage and Deenagh Lodge are responsible for rubbish disposal at these premises.
Killarney Urban District Council is responsible for the three carparks at Ross Castle and I understand that bins are not provided at these locations.
