Pat Casey (Fianna Fail)

I will declare a conflict of interest. I am a privileged Senator in that I live in Glendalough, which is in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Sometimes, we take the significance of that for granted. I acknowledge the incredible service that the staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Service provide specifically in Wicklow and also in the broader context. The way they communicate with the communities they are involved with is important because it leads to getting a lot more done by bringing everybody on board. The challenge for the national parks is trying to strike a balance between protection, education and promotion. We all have to be realistic. The national parks in Ireland are probably our single greatest asset when it comes to tourism and the country's tourism potential. It is about striking that balance between protecting and educating people about the environment, while promoting that environment as one of our greatest national assets.

We all have challenges and Glendalough, no different from anywhere else, has significant challenges. I served on the national parks council in Wicklow. I hope to revive that interest shortly. Our best time in Glendalough was when Dúchas was established. A number of State bodies came together under one organisation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service headed by Seán Casey at the time. We got an incredible amount of work done. While we have a fantastic master plan in Glendalough, there are seven State bodies involved, with no direct lead trying to resolve the difficulties in the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Some of our other State bodies need to learn from how the National Parks and Wildlife Service does it. They too should follow the same example moving forward.

In the short time I have left, I want to discuss deer management. It is a significant issue in Wicklow.The numbers have increased because, during the years of Covid, we probably did not get the culling required. For the deer species itself, it is nearly overpopulated at this stage and it is probably in its own interest.

My final request is, Wicklow national park expanded by more than 4,900 acres back in 2016. We also have a beautiful gem and nature reserve called the Glen of the Downs in Wicklow. I know the Minister of State has been lobbied on this matter. There is a specific piece of land directly adjoining the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve that is already a woodland and ideal for purchase. I sincerely hope the Minister of State will look on that in relation to expanding that specific nature reserve.

I was part of the red kites programme in Wicklow and they have gone from the area they were released in Woodenbridge all up the east coast and we begin to see the red kite present again in our daily lives.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber. Our national parks are critical for our people and communities. They provide a space we can all go to for recreation. However, trying to find that balance can be difficult.