Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for the management of the Burren National Park; and if there are plans for park and ride visitor facilities. [2716/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Burren National Park is managed by the national parks and wildlife service of my Department. In September last, my predecessor announced a new management planning process for all six of Ireland's national parks. As the first part of that process, I intend shortly to launch management plans for the Wicklow Mountains and Killarney national parks, which have been drafted with the assistance of the relevant national park liaison Council and public consultation. Following their launch, I propose to apply this process to the other national parks at Glenveagh, Connemara, Ballycroy and the Burren.

With regard to the Burren National Park, I hope to be in a position to establish a liaison council for this park later this year, and my Department will work with the council in drafting a management plan for the park. The primary role of the council will be to represent the views of the local communities and groups which have an interest in the management of the national park.

There are no current plans for park and ride visitor facilities to the Burren National Park. However, I would envisage that this and other issues can be considered in the context of the management plan for the park.