Rose Conway-Walsh challenges national park renaming

Thank you Minister for being here. Minister, there are very many things that need to be fixed in Bellicroy and in Mayo. From broadband, to mobile phone coverage, to roads, to housing, to health, all of them need to be fixed. But one of the things that did not need to be fixed was the name of Bellicroy National Park and the change to Wild Nathan National Park. And the people in Bellicroy, and it is not only the people in Bellicroy, but the diaspora of Bellicroy, who are spread throughout the world, are extremely angry that this decision has been made, that nobody has asked for, and nobody was consulted about. So I want to know, Minister, who made that decision and when was it made? Because when we know who made it and when it was made, then I expect the same person to reverse or to overturn that decision. Now, Minister, I do not want you to give me the letter that we have already received, myself and Deputy Caleri, as an answer, because you point out to me the names of the parish of Kiltayne, Bangarere, Spelly, Munnley, Bellicroy, Newport, Mulrani, Srimoar, Derra, Turbridge, Keane and Ault-Nebroucay. Now, I come from Bellicroy, I come from next door to the National Park as it happens. I know all these places. I know where they are. I know the sizes of them. So please do not repeat that to me. And in your letter you say you want to reduce the confusion. Well, you might tell me who is confused. Because it is certainly not me or Deputy Caleri that is confused about it, or the people of Bellicroy, or the diaspora of Bellicroy who is confused. But it seems like this government is confused and completely, completely out of touch with what is happening in these areas. Nobody, people ask me many things, nobody has ever, ever, ever, ever asked me that the name of Bellicroy National Park be changed. The Minister has asked me to assure you that his department is deeply committed to the development of the National Park in Mayo. In December of 2017, the Department of Heritage announced the expansion of Bellicroy National Park to include the area known as Wild Neffin. This expansion of the National Park was the result of a long-standing collaborative project between Quiltia and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Heritage. The addition of the Wild Neffin area, and also separately a private acquisition of 1,200 acres at Altnabrocki, has expanded the total size of the park to over 15,000 hectares of the Neffinbeg mountain range. The expansion adds significantly to the overall biological diversity of the National Park, which will be augmented further under park conservation management. With the consolidation of the entire Wild Neffin area into the ownership of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the potential for this park is enormous. One of the major advantages of this consolidation of land is the access to the National Park, which had been historically problematic. The expanded park would be the key link from the Great Western Greenway going north into Bangor Eris and Ballycastle, and would be an important tourist hub and a gateway for cyclists and hikers from the Greenway into North Mayo. These acquisitions also mean that some 65 per cent of State-owned lands making up the park are in fact outside of the Ballycroy catchment area. Of the National Park, circa 15,000 hectares, 33 per cent is in the parish of Ballycroy, 26 per cent is in the parish of Kiltan, and approximately 20 per cent is in the parish of Barisheul, and 20 per cent is in the parish of Crossmalina. Included in the above is the 4,200 hectares leased from Cuitje and acquisition at Altnabrocki, all of which are not within the parish of Ballycroy. The name change is intended to assist the integration of the original park and the newly acquired land fully into the Nethanbeg mountain range in the North Mayo landscape, to integrate with all of the communities in the townlands above, and to provide a clearer indication of the location to tourists and reduce confusion, especially in terms of the Nethan wilderness area. The new names provide a clear indication and reflection of the entire landscape, which fully represents this unique area on an international platform, with IUCN recognition for Ireland's sixth national park. Thank you. Thank you, Alice Concordi. Minister, you never answered any of my questions. You know, you did what I asked you not to do, was repeating what the written answers that myself and Deputy Clary had been given already. We wanted to know who made the decision and when was it made, and was it going to be overturned or reversed? Nobody has asked for this. If there is nobody capable within the department of, or anybody politically, of marketing and advertising and branding Ballycroy National Park, well, then you seriously need to look at the capacity of it, if it has to be changed to Wild Nethan, when nobody asked for it. My God, like this government, why do you do these things to people? Why do you insult people? When National Parks and Wildlife and Government has enjoyed the cooperation of landowners, of people around the national park, for many, many years relationships have been built up. Minister, they have been destroyed. Minister, I am not in a position to be able to answer the specific questions around who made the decision when it was made, around the issues of consultation, but I do understand and hear the incredible importance of the name to the deputies, and I will certainly bring those points to the relevant minister in relation to this matter, so I will. I wish again to thank the deputies. I would point out that the name has changed to better represent the areas, the national park and habits, the commitment of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to both Ballycroix and the National Park remains unchanged. The official state-of-the-art visitor centre for the National Park remains in Ballycroix Village, and the Department of Housing and Local Government and Heritage is currently developing proposals in conjunction with Mayo County Council and Fortier Ireland to upgrade and invest in this area, including examining the potential for a planetarium and observatory to complement the National Park's designation as a gold-tier dark sky park. The location of the visitor facility in Ballycroix Village and the associated walks and education facilities which attract visitors to Ballycroix will remain on all road signage in the region as we continue to grow the visitor numbers annually to both the parish of Ballycroix and the wider North Mayo region, with the support of the Mayo County Council. Overall, this reflects the ongoing commitment of all stakeholders to improve the recreational potential of this area whilst ensuring the high standards of nature conservation. This government is committed to preservation and presentation of our natural heritage for future generations of citizens and visitors alike to enjoy. In a nutshell, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is looking to improve the recreational potential and visitors' amenities of our national heritage sites whilst also ensuring the highest standards of nature conservation. I hear the Deputy's questions and the Deputy's comments, and I will convey those to the Minister.