Sir, - Michael Finlan's article (January 29th), about access to Uggool beach in Co Mayo is incorrect. The Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr Kenny, is of course aware of this ongoing difficulty and has been taking steps to ensure that a resolution to the problem of access to such a scenic area is found as soon as possible.
The resolution of this problem is not one for the Department of Tourism and Trade but lies between the land owner and the local authority. In this connection the Minister understands that the issue is quite complicated, that the fence is on private property and the land owner in question has experienced difficulties in the past caused by people crossing his bland to access the beach.
Shortly after taking up office as Minister, Mr Kenny asked the Mayo County Manager and the Regional Tourism Organisation to investigate the matter with a view to coming up with a proposal that would resolve this problem once and for all.
Plans are now at an advanced stage for an alternative route to open up access to Uggool beach by Mayo County Council. The Minister appreciates that this issue may have given rise to frustration in some quarters. He is nevertheless continuing to monitor this problem and will make every effort to seek a solution that will be in the interests of all concerned. - Yours, etc
Press Officer,
Department of Tourism and
Trade
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2.
Michael Finlan writes: The information I reported is correct, the beach still remains fenced off by barbed wire and no action has been taken to remedy the situation which has persisted for six years. Last August Minister Kenny made optimistic noises about a resolution of the difficulty, which lies within his own constituency, but no happy outcome has come - about. One may accept that he is "monitoring" the situation but nothing has come of it so far. The plans which his Department says are at "an advanced stage". will be watched by many people to see if they become reality.