Vol. 550 No. 4
566 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if funding is in place for the cable car project for Inishbiggle Island, Achill, County Mayo in view of the fact that this project has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8803/02]
In July 2000, a grant of €1.84 million was approved by my Department to Mayo County Council for the provision of a cablecar and associated services between Inishbiggle and the mainland at Bullsmouth. This grant was based on a total estimated construction cost of €2.03 million with Mayo County Council to provide the balance of €190,000.
While it was hoped that construction of the cablecar would have commenced this year and that the service would be fully operational by the spring of 2003, an objection was lodged with An Bord Pleanála last year against one of the compulsory purchase orders in respect of the land required for the project. An Bord Pleanála has now confirmed this order and I have been informed by Mayo County Council that they will now proceed with the development of the project with a view to having the works completed by the end of 2003.
