Car Parking Facilities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004

Tuesday, 6 July 2004

Questions (399)

John McGuinness

Question:

432 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the purchase of a site of 1.3 acres at Castle Sreet, Trim, County Meath, for the purpose of providing a car park for Trim Castle is now complete; if the contribution to the purchase price from Duchas of €63,500 has now been paid; if so the date when the payment was made; if the development which was agreed with Trim UDC for a car park has commenced; if so, if there is a time-frame for completion; if the project when completed will deal with a potentially difficult problem as outlined in a report (details supplied) of 25 October 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20380/04]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The site in question was acquired by Trim Urban District Council, now Trim Town Council, in February 1997. The agreed contribution of €63,500 towards the provision of car park facilities which would cater, inter alia, for visitor traffic to Trim Castle was paid to the council in June 2000 by the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The problem proposed to be remedied by this project, as identified in the internal report referred to in the question, was the inability to provide car-bus parking facilities for visitors to Trim Castle on any lands at the disposal of the State.

In light of apparent changed plans by the local authority in regard to the procurement of the project, and the fact that a permanent car park has not been provided to date, my Department has written to the local authority asking for a full report on the matter. This is awaited.