Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide the details of the lands that are currently owned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service surrounding the Lough Carra catchment area; if there is a plan to acquire future land holdings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56797/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Lough Carra is the largest marl lake in Ireland and is part of the Great Western Lakes complex. It covers over 1,500 hectares and is joined to Lough Mask by the Keel River. It has many islands and a shoreline of bays and promontories, all on a bedrock of limestone. The lake is an internationally important scientific and nature conservation site, largely in state ownership and it is designated a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has very recently purchased additional lands (approx 67 acres) in the area, consolidating the State’s landholding at Moorehall/Lough Carra, which will be managed for nature conservation and a public amenity.