Michael Ring
Question:253 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position with the proposed national park in Ballycroy, County Mayo; and the funding, if any, allocated to this project for 2000. [2257/00]
Written Answers. - National Parks.
Michael Ring
Question:254 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if a site has been selected for the location of an interpretative centre at the proposed national park in north Mayo; and, if so, if she will give details in this regard. [2258/00]
Michael Ring
Question:257 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the amount of funding allocated under the Tourism Operational Programme 1994 to 1999 to the proposed national park and visitor centre at Ballycroy, Westport, County Mayo; the amount of this money which was spent; and the way in which it was spent. [2302/00]
Michael Ring
Question:258 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the amount of funding allocated to the proposed national park and visitor centre at Ballycroy, Westport, County Mayo; and if she will give a breakdown on the costings. [2303/00]
Tógfaidh mé Ceistreanna Uimh. 253, 254, 257 agus 258 le chéile.
Under the 1994-99 EU community support framework, there was a provisional allocation of £2 million made under the tourism operational programme for the construction of the visitor centre and development of the national park. However the EU regulations specified that the project had to be fully completed by the end of 1999. When it became clear that this deadline could not be met this project was decommitted as I outlined in my replies of 24 Feabhra and 31 Márta 1998 to ceisteanna Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, and 214 and 215 respectively. Some £143,969 had been spent on the project previously in minor preparatory works.
I have now allocated £3 million for this project under the national development plan. The sites offered for the visitor centre to be located at Ballycroy have been assessed and narrowed down to those most suitable. Once a definite site has been selected its acquisition and the subsequent planning and design of the centre will be processed in the normal manner. Some £200,000 has been allocated towards purchasing a site, planning, design work, etc. in the current year.