While local authorities have statutory powers to make bye-laws to regulate activities of the nature referred to by the Deputy, as far as I am aware no bye-laws have been made for that purpose in the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains region.
The European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations provide for Ministerial Directions to regulate the use of quad bikes, other off-road vehicles and the carrying out of activities that are likely to harm European nature sites, habitats and protected species. In 2010, Directions were made to restrict the use of off-road vehicles in a number of areas, including the Wicklow Mountains National Park, where the unauthorised use of off-road vehicles, including quad bikes, is prohibited.
All recorded monuments, including those located in the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains, are protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004. My Department responds to reports from the public of any alleged damage or potential for damage to such monuments. Archaeologists from my Department have had recent occasion to visit certain sites on foot of complaints in relation to quad bikes, particularly at Seefin passage tomb. While there were track marks leading up and over the cairn, I am advised that it was difficult to see clear direct damage to the monument as such damage may be invisible but cumulative over time. Further Department inspections at Tibradden and Seehan earlier this year recorded no evidence of damage.
My Department will continue to inspect these monuments on a regular basis.
