Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 417 to 419, inclusive - which have not been spoken to yet so I will come back in then - seek to amend section 49 concerning the obligation to prepare objectives for the management of areas, uses and structures as part of the development plan. Section 49(2)(g) states the development management statement may include objectives for a number of matters including preserving public right of way "including a public right of way which gives access to any seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or [any] other area of natural beauty". Deputy Ó Broin's amendment seeks to include public rights of access to monuments in this provision. I have come across instances a number of times where monuments are on private land. I will look at this with respect to the potential for the provision of a new paragraph (h) in section 49(2) related to habitats, green space, etc. I will consider the consequences of including such a provision.

I am giving a clear undertaking here that I will come back on Report Stage on this. I just have to think that through. I have sympathy on the monument side. I have personal experience in my own area of that where there are monuments that are designated that may be in private ownership but there are complexities there as well. Many landowners allow access to them. I am thinking of old passage tombs as well and Fourknocks out by Naul as well. In that instance, the tombs are privately owned but access is allowed. Therefore, I will look at that to see whether we can insert a new paragraph but also looking at what the Cathaoirleach will be speaking to in a moment so I may come back in when he has introduced his amendments.