Vol. 438 No. 1
22 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money which has been spent by the Office of Public Works under various campaigns in relation to the Interpretative Centres in Mullaghmore, Luggala and the Boyne Valley since 1990; and if he will give details of the amounts spent on legal costs, consultation, advertising, production and environmental impact studies, publications and construction works.
I presume that the "campaigns" to which the Deputy refers is the consultation process carried out by Office of Public Works last year in accordance with a Government decision. The total cost of this process was £296,000.
The consultation process was initiated to provide the public with clear and accurate information about the proposed centres and to facilitate extensive public feedback. I am satisfied that both of these aims were achieved. The many submissions made to me by the public were of considerable assistance and ensured my decisions in relation to the projects were as well informed as possible. The consultation process also helped to reduce the level of acrimony which had previously existed on this issue which was, in most quarters, replaced by calm and constructive consultation.
The specific information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
£ |
|
|
Legal Costs incurred by Office of Public Works |
251,800 |
|
Advertising, consultation-publications production |
296,000 |
|
Environmental Impact Studies |
86,000 |
|
Construction Works |
2,529,000 |
