A five-year management plan was unveiled today to preserve the woodland and world-famous lakes in Killarney National Park.
Environment Minister Dick Roche said the strategy focused on developing the Co Kerry park as an area of conservation of natural heritage as well as encouraging the sustainable use of resources.
The plan sets out targets and interventions for each of the five years of the plan - which runs from 2005 to 2009. There was extensive consultations between the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Environment Department, the Killarney National Park Liaison Committee and the public.
The Minister said the plan for Killarney was part of the department's strategy to put in place modern management schemes for each of Ireland 's six national parks.
"It is evident how the management plan can provide impetus to achieve real and tangible improvements in both the visitor facilities and the conservation management of the park," Mr Roche said.
"Some 75 personnel based in the park and a €3.5 million budget has been allocated for the park this year."
The nucleus of Killarney National Park consists of the 4,300 hectare Bourn Vincent Memorial Park, which was formerly known as Muckross Estate and was given as a gift to the State by Senator Arthur Vincent in 1932.
Over the years, the park, which was Ireland 's first ever national park, was extended by a series of acquisitions amounting to around 10,289 hectares, which included the world-famous Lakes of Killarney.
Mr Roche said progress had been made on many of the objectives for 2005 - the first year of the plan.
He said four kilometres of the Derrycunnihy to Gearameen Mass Path had been upgraded, sustainable grazing regimes were being prepared, an organic fruit farm was being created, a wheelchair-friendly footbridge had been erected near Ross Castle, and a census of deer numbers was under way.
PA