The Great Blasket Island should be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to a new plan for the Kerry island which will go before the public this week.
The proposal is contained in The Great Blasket Island Local Area Plan, which is the result of two years of consultation and negotiations between landowners, State bodies and boatmen.
The plan, drawn up under a forum chaired by the Kerry county manager, Mr Martin Nolan, says in the short term the Great Blasket be designated the Blasket Island Heritage Park. The island is already a candidate Special Conservation Area and Natural Heritage Area.
Kerry County Council staff travelled to Springfield in Massachusetts, the home of many of the Great Blasket descendants, to get their views before drawing up the plan. A large number of written submissions were also received.
In the past the island has been the subject of much wrangling. This resulted in the Supreme Court in 1997 striking down the Great Blasket Act of 1989, under which the island was to be turned into a national park.
In more recent months it was feared that disagreement over the location of a new pier on the island would unsettle matters once again.
The new plan proposes that the new pier and slipway be developed at the existing site near the homes of some of the Islands famous writers'.
It says that no further houses be built on the island, which already has a number of dwellings including holiday homes. However there is provision in the plan for the development of "minimal" facilities for visiting tourist.
Dúchas, the heritage service, has prepared a draft plan for existing structures and archaeology, including the remains of a castle. The ruins of the homes of writer, Muiris Ó Suilleabháin, Peig Sayers and Tomás Ó Criomhthain are to be stablisised under the plan.
Until now tourist numbers on the island have been limited by an inadequate pier.
Under the plan cultural tourism will be encouraged in the tradition of the early years of the 20th century when scholars came to learn Irish and collect folklore.
Previous proposals for a cap on daily visitor numbers have been abandoned and instead it is proposed to "properly manage" the visitors.
The plan now goes before the public for a period of six weeks.
UNESCO has advised Kerry County Council that the most appropriate designation would be a combined natural and cultural designation, similar to that of St Kilda Island off the coast of Scotland.
The island must be placed on Ireland's Tentative List of places by 2004, UNESCO have also advised.