1561. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent devastating fire in Killarney National Park, if designated barbeque areas will be considered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55792/26]

The fires in Killarney National Park and Wicklow Mountains National Park last week bring into sharp focus the very real dangers associated with the use of disposable and portable barbecues at any tome in wild areas and especially during periods of heightened fire risk. It is important to note that the use of disposable BBQsand the lighting of fires is not permitted in our National Parks.

Lighting fires or using disposable barbecues in a National Park or any wild area is not carelessness, it is gross irresponsibility - especially during a heatwave. The same can be said for a barbecue in a designated barbecue area. The NPWS resources are not best used monitoring such areas.

The NPWS responded quickly in both cases last week, preventing these fires from developing into more significant incidents, and worked closely with the fire services and aerial support to control the fires. It is this quick response that ensured these fires did not spread further and become more significant.

These fires place lives at risk. They endanger members of the public, threaten nearby homes and businesses, and expose firefighters, NPWS staff, Coillte personnel and emergency responders to significant danger while diverting critical resources from other emergencies/work. It goes without saying that the safety of the public is a priority, however it should be noted that such fires have a profound effect on nature - animals are killed by heat and smoke, habitats and food sources destroyed and vegetation severely impacted.

Incidents like these clearly show that the careless or reckless use of disposable barbecues can have catastrophic consequences. A single ignition source can destroy hundreds of hectares of precious habitats, devastate wildlife populations, damage fragile ecosystems and inflict ecological harm that may take decades to recover, if recovery is possible at all. The true cost to nature is incalculable.

I very much welcome the call from the Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment, to all retailers, to consider voluntarily suspending the sale and promotion of disposable barbecues while current high fire risk conditions remain in place, and during all future periods when official wild fire warnings are issued.