Minister to decide on national park burials

A DECISION is expected shortly by Environment Minister Dick Roche on whether to allow a burial ground in Killarney National Park.

As space has virtually run out in local authority graveyards in Killarney, pressure is mounting on the minister to provide land in the national park.

There are stringent restrictions on any developments in the 26,000-acre park.

In Killarney yesterday, Junior Environment Minister Batt O’Keeffe met local FF councillor Tom Fleming and others on the issue.

Killarney Town Council has identified a three-acre site in a secluded area of the park, as being suitable.

Mr O’Keeffe, who visited the site, said Mr Roche had last year met a Killarney delegation on the issue.

“No final decision has yet been taken by Mr Roche, but there will be a decision in the near future. I can’t indicate at this stage whether it will be a positive or negative decision,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

He said he understood the concerns of families who wished to have loved ones buried as near as possible to their home place.

“We’re trying our best to facilitate this, but we must have regard to the constraints which surround the use of national parks.”

Mr Fleming, meanwhile, said the earmarked site at Church Road, Muckross, was most suitable.

“All we need now is the go-ahead from the department to use the site. We need an early decision.”

He said the population of Killarney was growing and many locals were concerned they could not find places in which to bury their dead close to home.

The high price of privately-owned land in the area is making it difficult to purchase land for a graveyard.