06 October 2004

Minister points the way for national parks

Environment Minister Angela Smith has announced the publication of a discussion paper on legislation for national parks and other protected landscape areas in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the first meeting of the Mourne National Park Working Party in Newcastle, the Minister said she wanted the paper to stimulate debate about the need for new national park legislation and to seek views that will help her Department prepare detailed proposals which will be the subject of further consultation next year.

“Our task is to devise a model for national parks that suits Northern Ireland,” Ms Smith said. “The paper also provides an opportunity to review the adequacy of the current arrangements for the management of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

The Minister also said there were several models to choose from but that these needed to be considered in the context of the ongoing Review of Public Administration emphasising that the management framework needed to be one that was suitable for national parks in other areas and not just the Mournes.

The proposed national park in the Mournes would be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. Although existing legislation allows for the designation of national parks, it is considered inadequate to provide for appropriate management structures.

(MB)