John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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257. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the NPWS will allow lands they own near a beach in Co. Kerry (details supplied) to be used for overflow parking on busy days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28073/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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It is not clear which exact lands the Question refers to in the details supplied, but it is assumed it is a parcel located within the Castlemaine Harbour Special Protection Area (SPA). The primary species of conservation interest in this SPA is wintering waterfowl and waders. Chough is also listed for the site and may use this field for foraging post breeding and/or fledging.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is in the process of using this land for conservation purposes. It is carrying out a habitat assessment of the entire site to establish additional conservation works and as such there are no plans to use the lands in question for the parking of vehicles.

Capacity challenges in national parks, nature reserves and scenic protected areas cannot be addressed through expanding car-parking alone. Any measures to reduce such pressures on habitats and natural amenities must be sensitive to their protected status and to the carrying capacity of the site itself.

The issue of car-parking is one for the Local Authority to manage, and the NPWS is engaging with the Council on the matter.