Kerry County Council has refused planning for a new education centre within Killarney National Park.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service applied for planning permission to turn a disused stable building into a nature education centre.
The NPWS says its Killarney National Park Education Centre specialises in biodiversity, conservation and heritage education, and was previously located within Knockreer House.
The NPWS recently closed Knockreer House, partly due to its restricted capacity as a protected structure, meaning there’s now no functioning education centre at Killarney National Park.
It then applied for planning to change use and convert the former stable building into classrooms, science labs, and supporting uses.
It also sought permission for a glass house, a bat house, and an integrated constructed wetland.
The stable building formerly served the now-demolished country house Torc Cottage, the site of which is a recorded monument.
The NPWS submitted that this would enhance the educational understanding and enjoyment of the national park, and the proposed relocation aims to provide a fully immersive experience for small groups, in an educational facility enveloped in nature.
It said this would also have all the necessary facilities for outdoor activities, including sampling, insect and plant observation; it said this would assist in raising awareness of the importance of protecting and conserving this important natural environment.
The council refused permission for three reasons; first, that it would impact on the recorded monument that is the site of the former Torc Cottage.
The council also said the planning application lacked a historic landscape impact assessment, informed by a full archaeological assessment of the site.
The third reason was that the application also lacked details including around car parking, junctions with the N71, and access for plant and machinery.
