Vol. 486 No. 1
732 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to confirm if her Department has entered into negotiations to purchase a property for use as an interpretative centre in Ballycroy, County Mayo; the property, if any, which is being bought by her Department in Ballycroy for any reason; and the details of any such negotiations. [1811/98]
733 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if Office of Public Works officials have purchased a building in Ballycroy, County Mayo for use as an interpretative centre in the proposed national park; and, if so, the amount paid for the building. [1812/98]
734 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if a public meeting could be scheduled by officials from the Office of Public Works to inform local people of the progress to date on the proposed national park in Ballycroy. [1813/98]
735 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the current position in relation to the proposed national park at Ballycroy, County Mayo. [1814/98]
736 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if there will be grant schemes available for local people to set up spin-off industries in conjunction with the proposed national park at Ballycroy, County Mayo. [1815/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimhreacha 732 go 736, araon gan áire-amh, le chéile.
A property on 23.07 hectares of land near Ballycroy, County Mayo, was purchased in December last, by Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. This property was acquired for use as an administration centre and to provide office accommodation and storage facilities for the proposed Mayo national park. There is no intention of developing this property as a visitor centre.
I would be pleased to arrange a meeting between officials of Dúchas and the local people to discuss progress in relation to the proposed national park. An official of Dúchas will make the necessary arrangements for such a meeting.
