This article is from page 4 of the 2006-06-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE Department of the Environment has confirmed that it is to contribute €210,000 to an initative to rejuvenate the Burren.
The news represents a major boost to Clare County Council’s €1.4m plan to boost the Burren’s tourism potential and halt environmental damage to it.
A decision is expected on the application for funding from Fáilte Ireland later this month.
Environment Minister Dick Roche has also confirmed that work on the Burren National Park Management Plan will begin later this year.
His department will contribute the €210,000 over three years, from 2007.
“The proposal is expressly linked to the environmental protection of this unique and sensitive landscape and is being undertaken in partnership with a wide range of stakeholder groups,” said Mr Roche.
He said the plan would “demonstrate best practice associated with the integration of environmental protection, rural development and tourism development in the protection of the heritage and landscape of the Burren region”.
The minister said it would also advance and integrate several existing community, nature conservation, archaeological and tourism initiatives that were operating in the Burren; and combine these with infrastructural improvements. These improvements would be undertaken by Clare County Council.
“The allocation is most welcome. Practical support like this from our key partners in the project is essential to the successful development of the initiative,” said the council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella.
“This work will be the start of the implementation of long established recommendations for the region and will see dedicated staff for the area for a period of three years, to progress the actions and manage community liaison and involvement in all aspects of the work.”
The move to put in place an integrated visitor management strategy for the Burren is the first by a number of agencies since the Government announced its ill-fated visitor centre plans for Mullaghmore in 1991.
Three major reports have been published on the proper management of the Burren: “Tourism in the Burren: A Strategic Plan” in 1994; “The Burren Monuments Strategy” in 1996 and “The Burren Tourism and Environment Initiative” in 2000.
The council has said that the reports contained worthy suggestions and recommendations, “but unfortunately until recently very few actions have followed these recommendations”.
The project is the first phase of a visitor management strategy for the Burren and will take three years to implement.