The Government has indicated its support for the creation of a regional park for the Liffey Valley in counties Dublin and Kildare.
Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Mr Brian Lenihan say Phoenix Park and Lucan Demesne, both of which are in State ownership, could form the nucleus of a prospective Liffey Valley regional park.
A "strong case" could be made for the designation of the area as a regional park along the lines of the Lagan Valley park in Belfast or the Lee Valley park in London, Mr Lenihan told a conference at the weekend.
The conference in Lucan was organised by an alliance of environmental and residents' groups who support the creation of a national park from Islandbridge in Dublin to Straffan in Co Kildare to protect the valley from over-development.
"The OPW would be in a good position to assume the role of champion or catalyst for such a project given its wide experience and expertise in the management of the Phoenix Park and many other heritage sites, and in view of its capacity as a national State agency to draw together and to co-ordinate the relevant local authorities and interested parties," Mr Lenihan said.
The Liffey Valley Park Alliance (LVPA) welcomed Mr Lenihan's announcement.
Its chairman, Prof Val Rice, said the valley was one of Dublin's great natural amenities but was under tremendous pressure as the city developed and expanded.
"The preservation of the landscapes of the Liffey Valley could be as visionary an achievement in current times as was the creation of the Phoenix Park some three and a half centuries ago for the smaller Dublin of 50,000 people," he said.
Mr Lenihan said the proposed park did not meet international criteria for a national park, as opposed to a regional park.
A national park related to larger, State-owned areas, mostly uninhabited and not materially altered from a natural state. In contrast, the Liffey Valley is largely in private ownership and is developed to some extent.
