Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 6

Written Answers. - Interpretative Centres.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

190 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Office of Public Works has not commissioned an environmental impact study into the proposed interpretative centres at the Céide Fields in County Mayo and Scattery Island near Kilrush, County Clare.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. N. Treacy)

The position in relation to the Céide Fields project is that the contract was in progress before the Government decision on environmental impact assessments was taken. This project has the full support of the local authority. It is below the statutory threshold for environmental impact assessment.

The interpretative centre for Scattery Island is a two storey building of about 160 square metres, being constructed on a derelict site at Merchant's Quay, Kilrush. The scale of the building is well below the limit set for environmental impact studies.