Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - EU Funding.

Tom Enright

Question:

580 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position in relation to Clara bog; if she will give details regarding the EU grant under the EU Structural Funds for the restoration and the provision of a visitors and study centre at Clara, County Offaly; if this application for the project which had been estimated at a total cost of £1.1 million, 75 per cent of which is being met by the EU, has been withdrawn by her Department or by anybody whose remit comes under her Department; if so, the date of withdrawal of the application; the individual who authorised the withdrawal of this application; if the withdrawal of this application was a Government decision; the consultation, if any, which has taken place with the local community or Clara Development Association before the withdrawal of the application; the reasons for the withdrawal of the application; and if she had considered seeking an extension of time to discuss this with Europe before she withdrew the application. [9413/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

A visitor centre proposed for Clara bog at an estimated cost of £1.1 million had received preliminary approval for EU Structural Funds which would meet 75 per cent of the cost of the project with the remaining 25 per cent being provided by the Exchequer. However, a prerequisite of EU structural funding was the necessity to have the entire scheme completed by the end of 1999. As indicated by me in my reply to Dáil Question No. 35 of 27 November 1997 under the mid-term review of the EU Structural Funds community support framework, a reduction of 10 million ECU was made on the European Regional Development Fund allocation for the sub-programme I of the operational programme for government 1994-9 for which my Department has responsibility. As the lengthy process of suitable site acquisition, design, the obtaining of planning permission, public tendering, construction and fitting out was inevitably going to last beyond 1999, a decision was made in October 1997 by me to include the funding allocated to this project as part of the decommitments required to meet this 10 million ECU reduction and this was also indicated in my reply of 27 November 1997. No application was made to the EU to seek an extension of time as this was not considered practical.

Over the last number of years meetings were held with the Clara and District Development Association at which there had a useful exchange of views took place between the association and officials of Dúchas, the Heritage Service of my Department. While there was no discussion with the Association in relation to the decision to decommit these funds it is my intention to resubmit the application for assistance from Structural Funds in the post-1999 period.