Vol. 520 No. 2
55 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands whether the National Botanic Garden contract for provision of new visitor facilities is on target for completion; if this will open by mid-summer; the total expenditure on the National Botanic Gardens over the last five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15173/00]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the building contract for the provision of visitor facilities, including an audio-visual theatre, quality tearooms and restaurant and carpark at the National Botanic Gardens is on target for completion at the end of June 2000. The completion of the building contract will be followed by fitting out of the visitor centre building which it is intended to open to the public in the early Autumn.
Total expenditure on the running costs of the gardens from 1995 to 30 April 2000 amounts to some £7 million. Capital expenditure during the same period amounts to some £6.8 million and includes expenditure on the following projects: provision of new propagation glasshouses; provision of a purpose built library/herbarium; provision of a lecture hall for the Teagasc college of amenity horticulture which is based at the gardens; and provision of visitor facilities.
