Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to designate the Liffey Valley region as a park or national park to preserve and protect its unique biodiversity and Georgian architecture (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19502/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 430 together.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is aware of the strategy document published in 2006 by several councils in relation to the creation of a Liffey Valley Park. The Steering Group for this strategy involved the OPW, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Kildare County Council and South Dublin County Council. The NPWS is not a member of this group, nor is it engaged in discussions with this group in relation to these proposals.

It should also be noted that, in general, while the NPWS occasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes, details surrounding such matters are considered commercially sensitive and not normally released into the public domain.