Madam, – In response to David Herman’s letter of March 5th, I feel it is important that people understand that work is already under way to manage recreation in the Dublin Mountains.
The Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) was launched last October to improve the recreational potential of public lands in the Dublin Mountains while balancing amenity with the other key objectives of the various land-owning organisations in the area (commercial forestry, water collection and conservation). The DMP members are Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council and the Dublin Mountains Initiative (which represents recreation users). I commenced my role as recreation manager in January 2009, and I am charged with implementing the innovative action plan commissioned and resourced by the partners.
Work completed in 2008 and early 2009 included upgrading the Tibradden trail (which Seán Mac Connell enjoyed walking) and another section of the Wicklow Way in Kilmashogue which was badly eroded. A website (www.dublinmountains.ie) and newsletter were launched in January to encourage people to visit the forests and trails in the mountains for outdoor recreation, and to use the public lands in a responsible and sustainable way. New signage has just arrived and will be erected over the coming weeks to display maps, information and shorter looped walks through the forests. This year we will we launch a volunteer ranger service to help visitors and curb anti-social behaviour. Work is well advanced on a new long-distance east-west walking route, the Dublin Mountains Way, and work has begun on a mountain access route at Cruagh in partnership with Mountain Meitheal.
The DMP believes the Dublin Mountains will become a wonderful recreation hub for the local community, citizens of Dublin and beyond. This will be achieved through the implementation of its 10-year strategic plan.
– Yours, etc,