Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú:

We have a very good nature reserve in Glengariff, which is one of the set of rural projects that have been funded under the rural development fund. These projects have to be rurally based. There are 78 reserves and six national parks and they are the fulcrum of local social and economic activity. They had been under-invested for a number of years but they are suited to the rural development fund because of their spin-offs. We take an all-of-Government approach to this. We are not competing with local communities and many projects are in partnership with local authorities. If the Deputy would like us to work with communities in the vicinity of Glengariff, or any other national park or reserve, we would be very happy to do that. The parks and reserves do not work or survive without engagement with the local community.

I acknowledge the Deputy for chairing the committee dealing with the Heritage Act 2018. It was a lengthy process and, while I do not have the Act in front of me, I recall what section 7(1) states, which is that the Minister may make regulations to allow the burning of vegetation during such periods in the month of March, and in such parts of the country, as she may determine. She made the decision after a public consultation and based on advice from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well as other information following the consultation of which met data were a part. The Deputy will recall that there is a six-month open season for burning, from 1 September to 28 February. There was a great deal of discussion regarding what would determine the approach and it was decided that the weather in the previous six months would be taken into account. Last autumn, and in the early part of this year, the weather was exceptional. People were walking around in tee shirts in February and the underground conditions were very dry, with fires in Wicklow and other parts of the country. This had an impact on parks and it required a huge amount of effort by ourselves, the fire services and the Air Corps to bring the fires under control.

It is a pilot initiative and nothing the Minister has done is repugnant in any way to the decision the Oireachtas, and the committee, made. When it comes around again next year, we will again consult with the public and Members of the Oireachtas before giving advice to the Minister on how to proceed.