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National Parks and Wildlife Service closes Killarney National Park to non-compliant jaunting cars

14/07/09

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has today (14 July 2009)  taken action to refuse entry to jaunting car operators who don’t have the required device (dung catcher) and licence. The NPWS stressed that Killarney National Park remains open to everybody else.
This decision was taken as none of the jaunting cars hold  a valid permit which requires  the use of dung catchers to operate within the Park which means that jarveys are operating illegally.  Since the beginning of June, the NPWS had repeatedly reminded jarveys that they must use dung catchers but  they have shown an unwillingness to co-operate  with the new requirements.
Killarney National Park, internationally renowned for its beauty and richness of wildlife, is protected under EU Directives and has UNESCO biosphere reserve designation and attracts well over 1 million visitors each year.
Within the National Park, up to 66 jaunting cars ply their trade under licence from NPWS across a network of some 15 kilometers of internal roads within the Park.  These paths are maintained and cleaned by NPWS at the taxpayer’s expense.
An unfortunate consequence of such a high volume of horses frequenting the Park is that the roadways are consistently fouled with horse dung and has for a long time, been a concern from the point of view of environmental, health and safety, aesthetic and tourism grounds.  It should be noted that the majority of visitors to the Park navigate the roads by foot and as result of the horse dung on the roads, the NPWS has received numerous complaints.
Initially flagged as an issue to be addressed under the Park’s Management Plan 2005-2009, the NPWS has been engaged in a consultation process with the jarveys since 2007 to finally address this issue and as part of this process had carried out trials with both a mechanical sweeper and with dung catchers.  The dung catcher option, preferred notably on effectiveness, cost efficiency and noise grounds, was also the subject of tests by a leading UK based equine expert as well as a leading veterinary consultant and is in widespread usage internationally, from Vienna to Vancouver.  It is clear, therefore, that these devices do work and are safe to use.
Although the dung catcher is attached to the car and not to the horse, jarveys have repeatedly signaled their complete opposition to the new devices but have never demonstrated where they perceive the problems to lie.  This makes it difficult to pinpoint what their actual reservations are and therefore, to work to overcome any problems with the devices.
The NPWS emphasizes its desire to avoid conflict and has acted in a  fair and reasonable manner but has been compelled to take this action as a very last resort. It regrets any inconvenience that may be caused to visitors to the Park and would like to reassure them that this action is being taken in the best interests of all users. NPWS is happy for the jarveys to continue to use this State resource to ply their trade and earn their living but the jarveys  must own up to their  responsibilities. NPWS remains hopeful that the jarveys will come on board and all parties can work together into the future in a way that is mutually beneficial and maintains Killarney National Park as special place to be enjoyed by everyone.

Ends


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NOTE TO EDITORS

· The NPWS has been engaged in a lengthy consultation process with the jarveys since the end of 2007 to consider how best to deal with the issue and as part of this process also carried out trials with both a mechanical sweeper and with dung catchers. The dung catcher option, preferred notably on effectiveness, cost efficiency, and noise grounds, was also the subject of tests by a leading UK based equine expert as well as a leading veterinary consultant.  

· The outcome of the examination by the NPWS of the issues, of the practice trials and of consultations with experts is that dung catchers work effectively, work in various terrains, work with different types of cars, are easy to operate and do not compromise animal health or welfare.  The NPWS has continued to meet with the jarveys and has sought to allay any concerns as regards usage and animal welfare they may have both through hands-on and DVD demonstration of the device as well as offering to provide the dung catchers free-of charge.

· NPWS is confident that the dung catcher device method is the way forward – they are already in widespread use in many European cities. After more than a year of consultations, the NPWS had hoped to have these in use in the National Park for the start of the main 2009 season, so it was not unreasonable that 8th June 2009 was selected as the date for their introduction. The requirement will now feature as a condition of Jarvey Permits requiring that “equine sanitary devices” must be used.

PROCESS
· There has been a significant lead-in period in arriving at the 8th June deadline. The NPWS first set out to address this problem in the context of the Management Plan for Killarney Park 2005-2009 where, inter alia, there was a commitment given to undertake research and demonstrate best methods for containment and disposal of horse dung and to implement a methodology in consultation with the jarveys.

· Since October 2007, the NPWS has embarked on a serious and extended effort to engage with the jarveys. Initially, eight meetings were held (October ‘07 – July ’08) during which the NPWS presented the options having regard to advice from both their UK-based expert (David Muir, formerly attached to British Mounted Police) previously involved in similar circumstances in the UK, and from one of Ireland’s leading equine veterinary consultants (Mr. Joe Collins, MVB, MRCVS, Cert EP, Cert VR from UCD’s Veterinary Medicine Faculty and President of the European Equine Veterinary Association and Member of the Equine Committee of Veterinary Ireland).  NPWS also requested that the jarveys engage in their own research and come forward with a practical solution to the problem of horse dung on the pathways in Killarney National Park.

· NPWS and the jarveys attended a mechanical road sweeper trial in Killarney in April 2008. Although the road sweeper proved somewhat effective in collecting horse dung, there were considerable factors militating against its use in Killarney National Park – noise, durability on the paths, cost and the intermittent use of the road sweeper leading to horse dung remaining on the paths for long periods of time.

· On 14 August 2008, the jarveys attended a meeting where it was explained that the process had to be drawn to a conclusion but that submissions could be made and these would be taken into account when arriving at a decision. In the event, one submission was received.

· The NPWS conducted its own practical trials in October-November using a variety of horses on varying terrains in the presence of its expert and consultant, an independent local veterinary surgeon and a representative from Kerry SPCA. The overwhelming outcome of these trials was that dung catchers are effective methods for the containment of horse dung.

· This led to a decision being taken to press ahead with the dung catcher At the start of March, the jarveys were invited to a briefing given by the NPWS where it was explained that the decision had been made to introduce dung catchers on 8th June 2009 so that jarveys were being given 3 months’ notice in order to become familiar with the new devices and to accustom their horses in good time.

· A further two demonstration days was held. The first in April, attended by the NPWS equine expert and veterinary consultant, an independent vet as well as the Kerry SPCA demonstrated the successful use of the device on a moving jaunting car. The second demonstration was held the week before 8th June where the emphasis was on fitting of the device. However, both these days were poorly attended by the jarveys and engagement by them on the days was virtually non-existent.

· In the event, the jarveys have signalled their complete opposition to the new devices but have never demonstrated the device to NPWS on their own jaunting cars and horses to show where they perceive the problems to lie. This makes it difficult to pinpoint what their actual reservations are and therefore, to work to overcome any problems with the devices.

· There has been some discussion with the legal representatives of the jarveys but these have not been fruitful. The jarveys also submitted a report from their own equine consultant but there has been nothing concrete in this to suggest that dung catchers won’t work.


POST 8TH JUNE DEADLINE
·  In this regard, the NPWS has repeatedly written to all jarveys since 8th June (on 4 occasions). These letters have notified them that they are required to have a valid permit, indicating that they are operating illegally in Killarney National Park without one and that failure to take out a permit would force NPWS to take appropriate enforcement action. In a letter of 18th June, 2009 NPWS went as far as sending out a permit to each jarvey to be signed and returned by 26th June but none have elected to take out a permit to date. 

· None of the jarveys have a valid licence and none have equipped their jaunting cars with a dung catcher, which is a now, a condition of the permit. They cannot be allowed to operate in such an illegal fashion any longer and the NPWS has therefore been compelled to act today Tuesday 14th July 2009 by closing off access to the jaunting cars.

· Notwithstanding that the 8th June deadline has long passed, the NPWS are prepared to allow the jarveys to re-enter the Park straightaway provided they sign the licence, collect their dung catcher and show a firm commitment in the short term that they will subscribe to the new requirements.

Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie
Web site: www.environ.ie

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