Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 2

Written Answers. - EU Funds Allocation.

Ivor Callely

Question:

20 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the money allocated to the Dublin region from the £57.85 million structural funds under the EU Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999; if he will give a breakdown of the allocations under the headings, national parks and nature reserves and inland waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5767/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

Projects totalling some £5.2 million have been approved from structural funds for the Dublin region under Measures 2 and 3 (National Monuments and Historic Properties and Natural Environment) of Sub-Programme 1 (Natural/Cultural Tourism) of the EU Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999.

The funding allocated for national monuments and historic properties projects amounts to £4.1 million as follows:

	£'000
St. Audoen's Church (part restoration and visitor facilities)	400
Rathfarnham Castle (restoration)	1,200
Iveagh Gardens (restoration of cascade)	200
Botanic Gardens (visitor facilities)	2,000
War Memorial Park (provision of bridge)	300

The funding allocated for Waterways projects amounts to £0.91 million as follows:

	£'000
Barge restoration project	70
Community co-operation schemes	40
Piersat Grange and Mespil Road	50
Moorings at Portobello	250
Replacement of culvert at Newcomen Bridge	250
Miscellaneous minor works
—Grand Canal	50
—Royal Canal	50
Improvements at Ringsend Basin	150

As there are no national parks in the Dublin region there can consequently be no allocation for the region under this particular heading.

Two of the three statutory nature reserves located in the Dublin region will benefit from a small amount of funding under the "provision for improvement of visitor facilities at nature reserves". These are Rogerstown Estuary and Baldoyle Estuary, where approximately £10,000 will be spent between the two sites on providing educational-interpretative information panels to acquaint visitors and the general public on the natural history of the reserves.

The third nature reserve in County Dublin — the North Bull Island — is managed by Dublin Corporation who have provided an interpretative facility, car parking and a warden for the reserve.