John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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730. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the purchase by the State of the section of the Dublin Mountains; if the purchase has been completed; her plans for the land; the difference the State’s purchase of the land makes with regard to the future use of the land and the future of the general Dublin Mountains area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38590/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to the purchase last year of an area of 4,900 acres (or 1,983 hectares) at Glenasmole in the Dublin Uplands. My Department completed the purchase of this area , known popularly as the Featherbeds, at a cost of €800,000 in December 2016.  This land has been added to Wicklow Mountains National Park, expanding the total size of this National Park to some 22,000 hectares. The lands referred to are thus being managed as part of Wicklow Mountains National Park.

The Featherbeds are an important area for nature conservation and for public amenity. Their acquisition at a cost of approximately €163 per acre represents excellent value for the state, not just in terms of value for money but also in terms of the amenity potential, conservational benefits and environmental gains. The purchase underpins the Government’s on-going commitment to the preservation of our natural heritage for future generations of citizens and visitors alike to enjoy. This outcome is the culmination of a constructive engagement between the Department and NAMA and addresses a long-standing strategy to align key environmental assets.

As the lands in question are located in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) there are already constraints and obligations placed on landowners, as well as the State included, on how the lands are used. While the lands will be primarily managed for Nature Conservation, other uses such as recreation will be considered where compatible with the Park’s Nature Conservation objectives. Given the high conservation value and sensitivity of the Blanket Bog and Heathland habitats provision of high volume recreational uses with visitor facilities and other supporting infrastructure is unlikely. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department will work with Dublin Mountains Partnership to manage this new acquisition, reflecting the on-going commitment of all stakeholders to improve the recreational potential of this area whilst ensuring the highest standards of nature conservation.

In addition, the legal rights and burdens such as Grazing, Sporting and Turbary rights held by individuals have to be respected and will be considered within the management options available to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.