Joe Higgins
Question:16 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán cén polasaí atá aici maidir le páirc stairiúil náisiúnta a chruthú ar an mBlascaod Mór. [19124/99]
Written Answers. - Great Blasket Island.
Emmet Stagg
Question:33 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps, if any, she intends to take arising from the recent Supreme Court decision which found An Blascaod Mór National Historic Park Bill, 1989, to be unconstitutional; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19135/99]
Joe Higgins
Question:52 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán cad iad na céimeanna a thógfaidh sí chun an Blascaod Mór a chothú mar ionad cultúir, oideachais agus oidhreachta; agus conas a chaomhnófar sainghné thraidisiúnta an oiléain. [19125/99]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 16, 33, and 52 together.
The Deputies will be aware that the proposed national historic park on the Great Blasket Island was conditional on the State having ownership of the properties on the island and that this was anticipated by the provisions of An Blascaod Mór National Historic Park Act, 1989. Since that Act's enactment, a number of attempts were made to reach agreement with the representatives of An Blascaod Mór Teoranta with a view to purchasing the holdings held by the company. Unfortunately, it did not prove possible to reach agreement on a purchase price.
The Deputies will be further aware that in July 1999 the Supreme Court upheld a decision of the High Court of February 1998 which declared the 1989 Act to be unconstitutional. The outcome of the Supreme Court decision is that the Act has been struck down in its entirety.
My Department has, however, continued to actively promote the culture and heritage of An Blascaod Mór, most notably through the exhibition and the programme of activities in the state of the art visitor centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, which is in place since 1994. A number of the Deputies will have experienced or heard of the highly successful annual Ceiliúradh an Bhlascaoid which is held to celebrate the culture and literature of the islands and which attracts significant numbers each year. Overall visitor numbers to Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir each year now stands at around 40,000 and I am happy that the Ionad is playing a hugely important part in promoting the culture, heritage and educational significance of the island while at the same time contributing to the economic and social development of the wider Corca Dhuibhne area.
I do take the view that the provisions of the National Monuments Acts 1930-94 and of the Wildlife Act, 1976, provide the means by which the heritage of the island can be well protected. In this regard, the national monuments Acts were invoked in 1987 to designate the houses of Peig Sayers, Tomás Ó Criomhtain and Muiris Ó Súileabháin as national monuments. I welcome the conservation work which was carried out to the house of Peig Sayers during the past summer by its owner An Blascaod Mór Teoranta, in consultation with my Department, as provided for by the national monuments Acts. I can further inform the Deputies that I am making arrangements to have essential conservation works carried out to the building known as An Dáil which is owned by the State.
I know that the Deputies will appreciate that the circumstances pertaining today in relation to the Great Blasket Island are greatly different from those in 1989 and that a different response may now be called for. Such response will have to acknowledge and promote the unique cultural, heritage and educational importance of the literary tradition of the Island. I will also continue to acknowledge and promote this tradition by encouraging the maximum possible use of Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir and by utilising the statutory powers assigned to me in relation to the built and natural heritage of the island.
I propose further to put the matter of future policy in relation to the island formally to the Government, taking account of the Supreme Court decision and other developments since 1989. Following consideration by the Government, I expect to be in a position to make a formal announcement in the matter.