Donal Carey
Question:50 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position regarding the interpretative centre for the Burren national park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2797/99]
Written Answers. - Visitor Centres.
Michael Bell
Question:64 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the further consideration, if any, she has given to proceeding further with a proposed visitors' centre for the Burren in view of the huge fall in the number of visitors to the Céide Fields centre and other visitor centres located in the west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2817/99]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 50 agus 64 le cheile.
In general, numbers visiting sites managed by Dúchas, my Department's heritage service, are rising. In 1970, there were four sites attracting 132,000 visitors. This year, there will be 62 sites presented to the public and the projected number of visitors is 2.2 million.
Céide Fields is one of these sites. When the visitor centre there first opened it attracted a rush of visitors, which is not unusual. As is often the case, numbers settled into a pattern in subsequent years. They have stabilised at 40,000 per annum since 1996, which is a very satisfactory performance. With new promotional activities I am confident that this performance will be maintained and improved upon.
With regard to the facility now proposed for Mullaghmore, in October 1996 on behalf of the then Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the Commissioners of Public Works applied to Clare County Council for planning permission for an entry point consisting of limited visitor facilities at Mullaghmore, County Clare, comprising a covered waiting area, toilets, ranger accommodation, ancillary parking, storage area and signage. In July 1997 Clare County Council informed my Department that the application for planning permission constituted a material contravention of the county development plan. In these circumstances a 75 per cent majority vote of councillors at a formal meeting of Clare County Council was required for planning permission to be granted.
Deputies will be aware that at a meeting of Clare County Council on 15 September last such support was not forthcoming and accordingly planning permission was refused.
On 13 October 1998 the Commissioners of Public Works on my behalf appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála who will make their decision in due course.
The Deputies will also be aware that I have decided to set up a consultative committee on the heritage of the Burren, which will identify opportunities for developments in keeping with the area's character as well as ensuring that there is a harmonious relationship with local communities in the development of the national park. Mr. Joe Moran, former chief executive of the ESB, who has extensive experience of economic and social issues at the highest level, has agreed to act as chairman of the committee.