The State has bought 100ac of land in the Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow.
The land, some of which has coniferous forestry, borders an ancient sessile oak forest in the Glen of the Downs special area of conservation (SAC).
A price tag of €6.5m was put on the ground when it went up for sale last year however, the Department of Housing, which is responsible for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), has refused to confirm what the State paid for the land.
“As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government recognises the importance of continuing to support the ongoing expansion and resourcing of our national parks and nature reserves,” a Department spokesperson said.
Some of the land beside the Glen of the Downs that the State has purchased. \ O'Neill Flanagan Estate Agents
“To this end, the NPWS occasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes. Such acquisitions are always carefully considered on a case-by-case basis and in line with public procurement requirements.
“In light of the commercial sensitivity of these considerations and the strategic implications of bringing these considerations into the public domain, we are not in a position to comment on any individual site that is offered for sale.”
Land acquisitions
The NPWS has purchased over 7,000ac of land since 2020.
The State body has spent €30.1m on land for conservation, the equivalent of €4,263/ac for some of the most valuable land for nature in the country.
Many of the sites bought are special areas of conservation (SACs) or natural heritage areas (NHAs).
Read more
NPWS completed 14 land acquisitions last year
Revealed: land acquired by National Parks and Wildlife Service since 2020
The State has bought 100ac of land in the Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow.
The land, some of which has coniferous forestry, borders an ancient sessile oak forest in the Glen of the Downs special area of conservation (SAC).
A price tag of €6.5m was put on the ground when it went up for sale last year however, the Department of Housing, which is responsible for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), has refused to confirm what the State paid for the land.
“As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government recognises the importance of continuing to support the ongoing expansion and resourcing of our national parks and nature reserves,” a Department spokesperson said.
Some of the land beside the Glen of the Downs that the State has purchased. \ O'Neill Flanagan Estate Agents
“To this end, the NPWS occasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes. Such acquisitions are always carefully considered on a case-by-case basis and in line with public procurement requirements.
“In light of the commercial sensitivity of these considerations and the strategic implications of bringing these considerations into the public domain, we are not in a position to comment on any individual site that is offered for sale.”
Land acquisitions
The NPWS has purchased over 7,000ac of land since 2020.
The State body has spent €30.1m on land for conservation, the equivalent of €4,263/ac for some of the most valuable land for nature in the country.
Many of the sites bought are special areas of conservation (SACs) or natural heritage areas (NHAs).
Read more
NPWS completed 14 land acquisitions last year
Revealed: land acquired by National Parks and Wildlife Service since 2020
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