Vol. 525 No. 2
765 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the conditions agreed to by the Irish authorities in order to secure the release of the funding for the proposed golf course at Doonbeg, County Clare, from the European Commission; if there are any uncompleted issues relating to the release of this funding; and if so, if she will outline these issues and commitments. [24300/00]
The lifting of the suspension of funding relating to the proposed golf course at Doonbeg, County Clare, arose out of confirmation of the respective positions of the Irish authorities and the EU Commission on the following issues: The EU Commission confirms that the existing management agreement for Vertig Angustior is technically acceptable as a means of ensuring that the golf course project does not have a significant negative effect on the snail population present on the golf course site. The Irish authorities are committed to the full implementation of the existing management agreement. The Irish authorities are committed to formally transmitting all outstanding sites, that they are considering for V. angustior and fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation, grey dunes, by November 2000. The Irish authorities are prepared to positively respond, within the framework of the directive, to any legal concerns of the Commission in relation to the basis for proposing Ireland's Natura 2000 contribution for V. angustior that may remain after 30 November. Any additional measures required will be completed within a four month period. The commission's notes the view of the Irish authorities that the remaining Irish sites for grey dunes, to be formally transmitted by 30 November 2000, should satisfactorily respond to the commission's concern that the Irish contribution of sites for grey dunes may prove to be insufficient.
I was pleased that, by entering into formal commitments to carry-out my policy in regard to the Natura 2000 Network, the commission were enabled to lift the suspension on co-funding referred to by the Deputy.
