Plans for a new 518 square kilometre (200 sq miles) national wetlands park in the north midlands have been given unanimous approval by the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment.
The plans which envisage a national wetlands wilderness park involve the flooding of a number of exhausted Bord na Móna bogs in the Longford / Roscommon area, known as Mountdillon bogs.
According to a committee which already has the support of Bord na Móna as well as Longford and Roscommon County Councils the wetlands could be created simply by allowing the bogs to flood naturally when Bord na Móna is finished with them.
Committee secretary John Fallon of Strokestown, Co Roscommon, told the Oireachtas Committee the current Bord na Móna narrow gauge railway could become a tourist attraction as it links the bogs.
He also pointed out that the flooded bogs would naturally become an area of scientific and educational interest to botanists, walkers, zoologists, students of natural history and others.
Mr Fallon said the area would also benefit from the presence of the Dublin to Sligo railway line between Roosky and Mullingar, providing easy access for visitors.
The bogs span the Shannon which he said would bring in a large section of Lough Ree and towns and villages which could be expected to benefit included Longford; Killashee; Kenagh; Newtowncashel; Ballymahon; Athlone; Roscommon; Strokestown, Roosky; Tarmonbarry; Lanesborough and Ballyleague.
Much of the Mountdillon bogs network has already been worked out by Bord na Móna and it is proposed to start the wetlands park in the bogs which have become exhausted, taking in the remainder as they become available over the next 25 years.
"Much of the low ground water is under the water table and during the working life of the bogs these areas were drained by a series of electric pumps. We would see these areas being allowed to flood after the bogs are cut away, thus creating lakes and swampy areas.
"A rich diversity of flora and fauna is already present with hares, foxes, and badgers. There are also pheasant, wild duck, woodcock and snipe in addition to songbirds, falcons and small birds of prey. In the wetter areas frogs are plentiful," Mr Fallon told the Oireachtas committee.
Mr Fallon said there were many trout streams flowing through and along the perimeter of the bogs, as well as the Shannon and Lough Ree. The Royal Canal which passes through the area was almost fully restored to the Shannon while there was even an airfield at Abbeyshrule, he pointed out.
To the surprise of some members Mr Fallon asserted the wilderness park committee was "not looking for any money".
He revealed that a number of scientific studies had already been carried out by Dr John Feehan of the department of environmental resource management at UCD, the latest of which is to be funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Oireachtas committee which unanimously approved the proposals said it will now call in the OPW managers of the State's national parks, to progress the issue.
