Michael Ring
Question:405 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when a planning application will be submitted for the proposed visitor centre for Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo. [14301/03]
Written Answers. - Visitor Centres.
Michael Ring
Question:406 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the building of the visitor centre for Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo will commence. [14302/03]
Michael Ring
Question:407 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the funding which has been or will be allocated to the visitor centre for Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo; and when the centre will be operational. [14303/03]
Jerry Cowley
Question:408 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the frustration felt by the Ballycroy and surrounding community at the delay in proceeding with the visitor's centre for Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo; when the visitors' centre will go for planning permission; when the building of the centre will commence; the funding which has been, or will be allocated; if the centre will be operational; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the project has been ready to go for planning permission for many months now and that the project is awaiting his go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 to 408, inclusive, together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 138 of 14 May 2003. As stated in that reply, an allocation of €3.8 million was indicated under the National Development Plan 2000-06 for the provision of a visitor centre for Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo. An attractive and extensive site has already been acquired for the proposed building in the village of Ballycroy and a working group, comprising officials of my Department, the Office of Public Works, Mayo County Council and local tourism, development and community representatives, has brought the project to an advanced stage. I am well aware of the support for this project within the local community and I appreciate the constructive role which local representatives have played in the deliberations of the working group to date. I hope to be in a position to make a final decision on this project in the near future, following which it will be possible to address the planning and operational issues arising.