National Parks

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 November 2019

Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Ceisteanna (223)

John Lahart

Ceist:

223. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the residents in the Glenamole region of the Dublin Mountains use parts of the national park in that area to graze animals and that there have been numerous requests to the local authorities to install cattle grids in the area to prevent the sheep from roaming onto the four public roads the run through the park; if her attention has been further drawn to a precedent that exists of installing cattle grids on public park lands (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45629/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The National Parks and Wildlife Service was asked by representatives of the local community to endorse the installation of cattle grids at Glenasmole, Co. Dublin and issued a letter of support in this regard in January of 2016.

The sites in question are at the location of previously existing, now defunct, commonage gates. Such systems were designed in an Ireland where there was very little traffic so the presence of a gate across a road was not a big issue. The gates were used in the past to ensure that sheep remained grazing the open hill rather than returning to the fields lower down.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has no issues with the installation of cattle grids at these sites. The area is designated a Special Area of Conservation for its mixture of heathland types. This is a habitat which requires management by grazing. The presence of a suitable number of sheep on the hill is positive for the favourable conservation of this habitat.