Vol. 489 No. 3
214 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the amount of funding available in 1998 for the location of an interpretative centre in Ballycroy, County Mayo; the amount of funding sanctioned in 1997; the amount and the way in which this was spent; and whether that funding is still available. [7893/98]
215 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the decision, if any, made on the location of an interpretative centre for the proposed national park in Ballycroy, County Mayo; and, if so, the location for this. [7894/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 214 agus Uimh. 215 le chéile.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 732 and 736 of 28 January and Questions Nos. 270 to 272 of 24 February in relation to this matter.
I have not yet concluded my examination of the report referred to in my reply of 24 February.
With regard to funding, a provisional allocation of £2 million was earmarked for the proposed visitor centre under the tourism operational programme 1994-99. As stated in my reply of 24 February, however, it is unrealistic at this stage to expect that the centre could be provided before the end of 1999. Accordingly, no allocation has been made for the centre in 1998. An application for funding will be included in the next tranche of European Regional Development Fund funds.
A meeting between officials of Dúchas — the heritage service of my Department and the Ballycroy Community Council has been arranged for Thursday next, 2 April.
