CALL TO DISBAND NPWS FOLLOWING CLONMOYLAN BOG IMPASSE

Date Published: 26-Jun-2012

The National Parks and Wildlife Service should be disbanded and replaced by a new environmental state body with new management.

That’s the view of Loughrea area Cllr Jimmy McClearn who passed a motion on his proposal at last evening’s meeting of the County Council.

The motion was seconded by Tuam area Cllr Michael Connolly who said the NPWS is inflexible in terms of the habitats directive which bans cutting on raised bogs including Clonmoylan where a two day impasse took place last week.

Cllr Dermot Connolly also backed the proposal to disband the group stating that the stand-off in Clonmoylan could have exploded into something more serious were it not for the intervention of the local bog action group and the Gardai.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm news, Cllr McClearn says the NPWS no longer enjoys the trust and support of the local community and reform is now needed.