Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I absolutely agree. I believe there is a strength in Bord na Móna working with communities. What I think it must be doing, however, is working with communities to restore, protect and rewet those peatlands. There should be a just transition for those communities. There were proposals for a mid-Shannon wilderness park in the midlands. Is this a concept that the Minister supports? There is great potential in this area to have a wilderness park and a very natural area of this type. Considering it is State land and, as the Minister said, it is a long distance from households, this seems the perfect opportunity to create something really natural, useful and biodiverse in our State. Does the Minister support the creation of this mid-Shannon wilderness park? Will he work with Longford County Council and Bord na Móna to progress this proposal?

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