Park staffing and expansion plans
Deputy Treacy asked about savings from staffing cutbacks and plans for additional parks. The Minister said the reduced workforce was doing its job effectively, that no new parks were immediately planned, and that Glenveagh was expected to open to the public; he confirmed the Burren was included in the parks discussion.
Will the Minister tell us the approximate saving which will be made in 1984 as a result of cutbacks on the numbers employed in the national parks? Would he agree that these parks are a major amenity? Has his office any plans to create other parks?
Comment on this
We have a few national parks. There is one in Letterfrack, Killarney, Glenveagh and the Phoenix Park. These are fine examples but I do not think there are immediate plans to create any more. We have reorganised the work force in the park's section and we are confident that we are doing just as good a job with this very slightly reduced work force as has ever been done. We hope to open Glenveagh National Park to the public this year. Extra people were taken on there. Posts had to be filled.
Comment on this
The Minister says there are three national parks and that the Office of Public Works do not anticipate establishing any more. When I was in the Department there were moves afoot to turn the Burren area of Clare into a new national park. Has that been forgotten about?