Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 618: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the efforts being made by State agencies in providing visitor facilities and signage for the Burren National Park; the reason no work has taken place on these issues since the demolition of the Burren centre at Mullaghmore in 2001; and when work on the draft management plan for the Burren will commence. [20690/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Improvements have been made by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department to visitor-related facilities in the Burren area since 2001. In that year, some €896,000 was provided towards the Burren Display Centre at Kilfenora, which includes interpretative material on the Burren National Park. More recently, a number of small lay-bys for limited car parking, as well as road improvement works surrounding the National Park, have been carried out in conjunction with the County Council.

My Department recently met with Clare County Council to discuss a proposal prepared by them, as Lead Partner, for a major visitor management initiative in the wider Burren area, including the Burren National Park. The proposal is expressly linked to the environmental protection of this unique and sensitive landscape and is being undertaken in partnership with a wide range of stakeholder groups.

The overall objective of this proposal, which is titled "Environmental Protection of the Burren through Visitor Management Initiative" is to protect and maintain the natural environment, while developing a visitor management strategy that promotes its sustainable use by visitors. It will also demonstrate best practice associated with the integration of environmental protection, rural development and tourism development in the protection of the heritage and landscape of the Burren region; advance and integrate several existing community, nature conservation, archaeological and tourism initiatives that are operating in the Burren; and combine these with infrastructural improvements to be undertaken by the local authority.

On foot of a request to my Department, I have agreed to become a partner in this initiative and have committed €210,000 in capital funding over three years, beginning in 2007. This is in addition to the resources that will be expended by my Department directly on national monuments, nature conservation and National Park issues in the area. Officials from my Department will also participate on the steering and advisory groups which will oversee this proposal.

A new management planning process is being put in place for all six of our National Parks, including the Burren National Park, on a phased basis. Management Plans have already been published for Wicklow Mountains and Killarney National Parks. Work on the Burren National Park Management Plan will begin this year.