Vol. 417 No. 5
124 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Finance whether European Structural Funds have been fully and specifically sanctioned for the Dún Chaoin Interpretative Centre as distinct from the general sanction in principle for 1989 for all interpretative centres.
126 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Directorate-General for regional policies of the EC Commission is still awaiting the results of the consultation process and conclusions to the environment impact statement in relation to the Dún Chaoin Interpretative Centre.
127 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if a full and specific sanction for the Dún Chaoin project is not forthcoming from Europe, then the State must bear the full £3.8 million cost; and if, in view of the fact that the environmental impact statement states that one full time job as manager of the centre is guaranteed, he can justify the expenditure of £3.8 million at a time when job creation is a priority for the Government.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 126 and 127 together.
I am satisfied that the visitor centre at Dún Chaoin conforms fully with the guidelines of the tourism operational programme of the EC Structural Funds and that the necessary support will be made available by the EC.
Based on the principle of subsidiarity the EC accepts that the matter of the EIS is one to be handled by the National Authority within the framework of the relevant EC Directives.
The Dún Chaoin centre forms part of the Great Blasket Island National Historic Park project which will require a large number of full-time and seasonal staff.
