Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá caomhnú agus cosaint an Bhlascaoid Mhóir fós ríthábhachtach d’Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí. Tá feabhsaithe beartaithe ag an oifig don séasúr atá le teacht i mbliana agus cinnteoidh sé sin go bhfuil rochtain shábháilte ag cuairteoirí. Cuirfear tús arís le seirbhísí báid do chuairteoirí i mí Aibreán 2023, ag braith, dár ndóigh, ar an aimsir áitiúil. Tá Oifig na n-Oibreacha Poiblí ag obair i dtreo comhaontú a thabhairt chun críche le húinéir talún áitiúil chun áiseanna leithris a sholáthar do chuairteoirí agus tá an oifig ag tnúth na leithris seo a oscailt ar an oileán do chuairteoirí i rith séasúir an tsamhraidh. Tá ceist fhadtéarmach na n-áiseanna á cur chun cinn freisin.

Tá saibhreas bithéagsúlachta agus fiadhúlra ar an mBlascaod Mór agus tá staidéar bonnlíona bithéagsúlachta críochnaithe ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí le déanaí. Soláthróidh an staidéar sin sonraí luachmhara ar na gnáthóga agus na speicis atá ar an oileán. Cabhróidh sé le hOifig na nOibreacha Poiblí a chinntiú go ndéantar bithéagsúlacht an oileáin a chosaint amach anseo.

Most visitors to the An Blascaod Mór take great care not to cause any damage, as the Deputy will appreciate, to the biodiversity or the heritage buildings on the island. During the winter, the OPW has produced a leaflet, following a suggestion made by the Deputy previously, to explain to visitors how to protect the wildlife and heritage on the island. This leaflet will be provided to the boat operators to share with visitors as they disembark on the island. The boat operators will also provide visitors with up-to-date information on the island.

During the winter, the OPW also prepared a tender package for the new conservation management plan. This plan will guide the development and care of the island in future. This tender will issue in the coming weeks as access is required to the island. It is anticipated that a successful tenderer will be appointed by mid-2023 and the plan will consider the elements of conservation, heritage protection, archaeology, transport planning, marine biology and environmental ecology, among others, in relation to the island.

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