Minister hears case for Mid Shannon Wilderness Park during Longford visit

The Minister was in town highlighting the EU fund targeting businesses and community organisations affected by the move away from fossil fuel industries.

As part of the Minister's visit to the region local Green Party Member, Catherine Joseph, arranged a meeting with pupils from St Mel's Transition Year Horticulture and Sustainability course, farm representative bodies, the disability representative on the County Longford Public Participation Network (PPN) and local Irish Wildlife Trust members.

Ms Joseph highlighted the importance of cooperation: “To make the transition to a more environmentally conscious society we must all work together,” she told the gathering.

Minister Ryan told the assembled guests that the Just Transition Fund will promote “jobs, bogs and buses”.
He said: “It seeks to lift the Midlands with investment and with opportunity.”

The Minister spoke of the devolution of responsibility: “Each local authority has responsibility of developing a plan in the next year. It has to be a plan that delivers Just Transition. It has to restore nature, but also it has to revive communities and economies all over the country.”

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A local social enterprise project that has a strong focus on sustainability was highly praised by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with special responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett.

John O'Hanlon Ulster/North Leinster Senior Regional Executive of the IFA acknowledged the role farmers have to play in addressing environmental concerns: “We are custodians of the land and we have a huge part to play in what is going to happen going forward.

“We in the IFA would like to see more engagement between the Minister and farmers, I would ask the Minister to engage with IFA at the top level. We need to have ongoing engagements.”

St Mel's Transitions Year pupils presented the Environment Minister with a selection of the vegetables and leaves they grew as part of their Horticulture and Sustainability course.

Teacher Yika Durkin explained that the pupils were providing fresh produce for use in the Longford Arms kitchen.

Longford Arms chef, David Porter, explained that the link up with the students is a mutually beneficial arrangement, with the Hotel getting fresh produce and the students getting funding for essential resources like polytunnels.

Marie Kielty, disability representative on Longford PPN raised a number of issues of concern, including issues with Irish Rail and disability badges.

Addressing the Minister campaigns officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust, Pádraic Fogarty, made the case for the development of a Mid Shannon Wilderness Park.

The proposed park location would rest between the Royal Canal and Lough Ree on the River Shannon. Much of the land involved is in State ownership.

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Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has said the delivery of a €169m EU led Just Transition package will be heavily reliant on communities and State bodies working in tandem with each other.

The IWT spokesperson said it has the potential to be a major tourism attraction of international importance.

These areas include Lough Ree, the Rivers Shannon, Inny and Camlin, the Royal Canal, Newcastle Wood and other forests and the future rehabilitated Bord na Móna bogs.

Mr Fogarty said the amenity areas are in very close proximity to each other and can be developed and combined to create the Wilderness Park.

“It would be a spectacular project for the entire community,” the IWT spokesperson said, “all the pieces are already there.”