Public Consultation on the Glenveagh National Park Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Brown, published the Draft Glenveagh National Park Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan for consultation in March 2025. This included the statutory public consultation process required under the Habitats Directive. (Public Consultation under Regulation 42A of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 293 of 2021))

There was strong public support for the Draft Plan but also a wide range of improvements and additions were put forward by the public, community groups and public bodies. These have been fully considered with many included in the Final Plan, which is now being put out for the final stage of public consultation.

Glenveagh National Park is the largest tourist attraction in the North West with c200,000 visitors per year, a figure which has risen significantly over the years. A detailed analysis of visitor figures and their implication is in Appendix A of the Plan.

Planning for recreation and tourism in the National Parks has developed in recent years with a strategic partnership between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Fáilte Ireland. This led to the preparation of ‘Experiencing the Wild Heart of Ireland’, a Tourism Interpretation Master Plan (TIMP), to guide the phased development of enhanced visitor experiences in all the National Parks. This in turn led to the commissioning of this Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan specific to Glenveagh National Park.

The Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan seeks to provide guidance on and a clear vision for future development within Glenveagh National Park, ensuring sustainable tourism within the Park and wider area is married with the promotion and support of nature conservation.

The purpose of this consultation is to give the public feedback on the outcomes of the 2025 public consultation process and to give the opportunity for a final input into the Plan. A Feedback Report on all responses received is included in the Plan Appendices. The documents now available are the Glenveagh National Park Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan and its Appendices, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Impact Report and Natura Impact Statement of the Plan. Following a review of the responses, the Ecological Assessment Unit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will make a determination to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive.

In accordance with Article 13(1)(b) of the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004, notice is hereby given that NPWS and its partners have prepared a SEA Environmental Report, non-technical summary and a Natura Impact Statement on the Plan. The consultation period on the SEA and NIS will run from Saturday 6th June 2026 to Monday 20th July 2026. A copy of the documents will be available in Glenveagh National Park Visitor Centre throughout this period

Public Consultation under Regulation 42A of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 293 of 2021)

An Appropriate Assessment is being conducted of the Draft Glenveagh National Park Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan by the Ecological Assessment Unit, as required under Regulation 42 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-2021. This public consultation is being carried out in accordance with Regulation 42(13) of these Regulations.

The Ecological Assessment Unit shall have regard to any submissions or observations received during the public consultation and may subsequently determine that the plan shall, or shall not, adversely affect the integrity of a European site.

The Minister now invites members of the public to make submissions, observations and comments on the Draft Plan, Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement during the period from 09:00 June 6th 2026 to 17:00 July 20th 2026.

A copy of:

1. Glenveagh Visitor Experience Development Management Plan and its Appendices
2. Glenveagh Visitor Experience Development Management Plan – SEA Environmental Report and Non-Technical Summary
3. Screening for Appropriate Assessment – EAU Determination on GVEDMP (Public Consultation)
4. Visitor Experience Development Management Plan – Natura Impact Statement
5. Visitor Experience Development Management Plan – Privacy Statement
6. Consultation form

are all available for public inspection online and at the Glenveagh National Park Visitor Centre, during office hours (9 to 5pm Monday to Sunday) during the period from 6th June 2026 until 20th July 2026.

Gaelic versions of the Draft plan and consultation form are also available online and at the above location.

Submissions or observations in relation to the Glenveagh National Park Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan and or the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report

Submissions or observations in relation to the Plan and SEA ER can be made during the period from 09:00 June 6th 2026 to 17:00 July 20th 2026 using the submission form below either to glenveaghconsultation@npws.gov.ie or by post to:

Glenveagh Consultation

Glenveagh National Park

Churchill

Co. Donegal

F92 P993

Submissions can also be made in person at the Glenveagh National Park visitor centre during office hours (9 to 5pm Monday to Sunday) during the period from 09:00 June 6th 2026 to 17:00 July 20th 2026.

Submissions or observations in relation to the Natura Impact Statement of the Glenveagh National Park Visitor Experience Development and Management Plan

Submissions or observations in relation to the Natura Impact Statement can be made either to eau@npws.gov.ie or by post to:

Head of Ecological Assessment
Room 2.23 Ecological Assessment Unit,
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
90 North King Street Smithfield,
Dublin,
D07 N7CV

These submissions will be considered by the Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and will inform a determination pursuant to Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-2021.

Please note that submissions received may be made available on the Government’s website. See the Consultation’s Privacy Statement under the Documents link for further information.

• Glenveagh Visitor Experience Development Management Plan
• Appendix C Traffic Addendum 10th Dec
• Appendix E2 Updated Trails Masterplan12th Dec
• Appendix H2 Castle Area Updated 10th Dec
• Appendix J Public Consultation Feedback Report
• Strategic Environmental Assessment – Environmental Report
• Screening for Appropriate Assessment – EAU Determination on GVEDMP (Public Consultation)
• Natura Impact Statement
• Consultation form
• Privacy Statement

All submissions and observations submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2014. Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation.

Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your submission (other than your name and contact details). It will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Please note that all submissions and observations received may be made available on the Department’s website. In any event, all submissions received will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, Access to Information on the Environment Regulations, and Data Protection legislation.

See also the Privacy Statement.

Submissions and observations will be considered in the finalisation of the plan and the associated assessments, as outlined above.