Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2018
816. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the amount of capital expenditure expended to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37125/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetween 2016 and 2017, my Department invested in excess of €7m capital in the Development of Ireland’s network of 6 National Parks and more than 80 Nature Reserves and other conservational/recreational heritage properties. Key highlights of this capital investment include:
- The on-going management, development and operation of our 87,000 hectare National Park and Nature Reserve Network.
- The expansion of Wicklow Mountains National Park with the purchase of 4,900 acres (or 1,983 hectares) of the Dublin Uplands, in the area known popularly as the Featherbeds. This land increased the total size of the National Park to over 22,000 hectares. The Department completed the purchase in December 2016 for €800,000.00
- €390,000 was spent in 2017 on consolidating National Parks property. The Department purchased an OPW property in Corofin for future use in respect of the Burren National Park, and purchased 800 acres at Altnabrockey in Mayo to consolidate its holding in the Wild Nephin.
- Trail maintenance continued with on-going upgrades to the popular Diamond Hill in Connemara National park, the resurfacing of the Blue Road at Shrahduggan in Ballycroy National Park and on-going clearance of scrub and invasive species in a number of National Parks and Nature Reserves.
- Upgrading of the road network in Killarney National Park and the restoration of the historic windows and essential maintenance and restoration works to the roof of Muckross House.
With regard to 2018 expenditure by my Department, the Deputy will be aware, that such expenditure is presently on-going and subject to internal verification and monitoring processes. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. 2018 expenditure will include the conclusion of the multi-million euro investment in the restoration of Killarney House and Gardens. Following on from the successful opening of the restored ornamental gardens in April 2016 and the opening of the 3 Historic Rooms of Killarney House in July 2017 the Department’s phased completion of the Killarney House & Gardens project at Killarney National Park will conclude with the formal opening of the 18 Room Visitor Centre and Exhibition on the 28th of September, 2018. Roughly 55,000 people have visited the rooms since their opening in July 2017 with more than 375,000 visitors to the Garden since their opening in April 2016.
In addition to such direct investments by my Department, the Deputy will also be aware that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has been proactively working in partnership with other State agencies, to further develop the Park and Reserves Network and support marketing initiatives such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East.
In December 2017, the Department announced the expansion of Ballycroy National Park with the addition of the Wild Nephin area, expanding the total size of the National Park to over 15,000 hectares. This was the culmination of constructive engagement between Coillte and the Department addressing a long-standing strategy to align key environmental assets. The National Parks and Wildlife Service will now manage this transfer of land and a public amenity conversion plan will be put in place. Overall, the project reflects the on-going commitment of all stakeholders to improve the recreational potential of this area whilst ensuring the highest standards of nature conservation. Work in this regard is on-going.
In January 2017, the Department entered into Strategic Investment Partnership with Faílte Ireland, aimed at enhancing and promoting the tourism offering at Ireland’s National Parks and also conserving and protecting the natural environments of the National Parks for the enjoyment of future generations. Since then, more than €400k has been expended on scoping and feasibility studies for the development of capital projects. In July of this year, as part of this partnership, we published Experiencing the Wild heart of Ireland – A Tourism Interpretative Masterplan for the National Parks and Nature Reserves. The Plan sets out a framework that will guide the phased development of enhanced visitor experiences and improved visitor facilities at our National Parks and Reserves, taking into account our conservational objectives and based upon research into international best practice.
The plan recommends a suite of capital projects of varying size (from smaller scale interventions such as installation of viewing platforms to larger projects such as the development of new boardwalks and trails, to the construction of new visitor centres). From these proposals, projects will be funded jointly by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Fáilte Ireland through a multi-million Euro investment package over the coming years. The first such project, a €2.1m investment in Wild Nephin- Ballycroy National Park was announced on the 31st of August, 2018 to develop a continuous 53km walking cycling trail from Newport to Ballycastle on the Wild Atlantic Way through the National Park. At present a section of the waymarked Western Way (200km linear trail from Galway to Mayo) runs north-southwards through the eastern portion of Wild Nephin providing a continuous 53km walking cycling trail from Newport to Ballycastle on the Wild Atlantic Way. This project will eliminate the need to walk the busy R312 by creating a spur which will provide a more direct and safe route on quiet tracks through bogland and forests. The outcome of this project will be an off road continuous cycling and walking trail in challenging terrain which will link the popular Great Western Greenway with the Wild Atlantic Way. This 56km section of the Western Way has potential to be walked/cycled for its full 56km and be promoted internationally as a unique, off road Grade 3 trail of scale to meet the rising demand for challenging outdoor recreational activity that is away from it all. The funding will provide opportunities for existing and new private sector operators in bike hire, guiding, outdoor recreation and will in time, support the accommodation and food sectors. The experience will appeal to domestic and international visitors that seek an off-road, wild experience on the western edge of Europe. Importantly, the project will ensure that the area is accessed in a sustainable way, protecting the habitat and directing tourists through a managed route.
In addition to its interactions with Fáilte and Coillte, the Department has successfully operated a joint management arrangement the Trustees of Muckross House since the early 1980s. As part of the Department and the Trustees ongoing commitment to the development, conservation and presentation of Killarney National Park, a regular programme of jointly funded capital projects are undertaken. A restoration of the Victorian Servants’ Dining Hall and Laundry Room in the basement of Muckross House was commenced last year and is due to finish shortly. It is estimated that the total costs associated with this restoration project will be in the order of €400,000. This latest project at Muckross House follows on from the significant investment in refurbishing the original metal-framed windows, which also included repairs to the roof, chimneys, gutters and downpipes, during 2016 and 2017. These capital investment projects at Muckross House, derive directly from the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department and the Board of Trustees, providing tangible evidence of the cooperation of a Government Department and a locally based not-for-profit body.
Under "Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage, 2018 – 2027" capital investment of some €50m has been earmarked for the National Parks and Nature Reserves. This investment ensures long term protection of the National Parks and Reserves and my Department is delighted to have this opportunity for investment and implementation of measures to protect our habitats, landscapes and wildlife.
