asked the Minister for Finance the up-to-date position regarding Glenveagh Park, Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Glenveagh Park, Donegal.
9.
All of the land required for the Glenveagh National Park, including Glenveagh Castle and gardens, is now in the ownership of the State. A new by-pass road to improve access to the park is under construction and work on a new visitor centre and administration buildings commenced recently. Certain scientific research is being conducted parallel with the construction works. It is expected that the park will be ready for the reception of visitors in 1984.
I should like to ask the Minister of State if work has started on the information centre and if there will be a roadway into the castle at Glenveagh. I should also like to know if the castle will be open to the public eventually.
I presume there will be a connecting road to the castle from the estate. The by-pass road on which work is being carried out by Donegal County Council on behalf of the Office of Public Works, is well advanced and is expected to be completed early next year. The new by-pass will improve access to the park and will also eliminate a dangerous bend on the public road.
As far as I am aware the new roadway will not lead to the castle. I believe it will short circuit the existing road as an entrance to the park.
When I was in charge of the Office of Public Works it was proposed to construct a new road to the castle so that the castle could be opened to the public. Will the Minister of State ensure that the roadway is constructed and that the castle is opened to the public in the near future?
The construction of the new by-pass road in the vicinity of Glenveagh was undertaken on the advice of the landscape and planning consultants when it was decided to carry out these works. I do not have any definite information as to what is to happen to the connecting road. I visited the park and appreciate what the Deputy has said but I cannot tell him if the road he referred to is being constructed. This is a beautiful area and I should like to tell the Deputy that work on the provision of a visitors centre and an administration centre in the park is proceeding. It is the intention of the commissioners to open this beautiful park to the public in 1984.