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Tourism Project Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (8, 715, 716)

Clare Daly

Question:

8. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he has taken to assist in delivering the promised maritime museum and facilities for the Irish Seal Sanctuary in partnership with Fingal County Council; and the action that can be taken to bring this project, which has planning permission, to fruition, even initially on the basis of a pop-up museum. [29217/13]

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Clare Daly

Question:

715. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the assistance he will provide for the Irish Seal Sanctuary, the future of which will be in jeopardy if it does not have a site or fresh financial prospects by 1 November 2013. [37021/13]

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Clare Daly

Question:

716. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the assistance he will provide for the Irish Seal Sanctuary the future of which will be in jeopardy if it does not have a site or fresh financial prospects by 1 November 2013. [37022/13]

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Oral answers (5 contributions)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 715 and 716 together.

My Department has not made any commitment regarding the development of a maritime museum and seal rehabilitation facility in Balbriggan and does not have funding available to assist this particular project. While I appreciate the work carried out by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, it should be noted that my responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relate principally to the conservation of habitats and populations of protected species, rather than the rehabilitation of individual animals. It is a matter for the promoters of the project, in consultation with Fingal County Council, to consider the option of developing the project on a more interim basis, if they so chose.

That was short and not very sweet. I am not sure why the Minister even agreed to answer the question, given that it was a non-answer. The reality is that this is a potentially important facility, given that there is an opportunity to develop a maritime museum - we do not we have one - and to proactively assist a not-for-profit organisation that has done enormously well in rehabilitating and protecting seals. I believe some of this activity takes place even in the Minister's constituency. It is a hugely popular pursuit. When the Irish Seal Sanctuary released a seal on New Year's Day, 500 people turned up for the ceremony. The Minister turned out in Balbriggan to celebrate the opening of a pop-up museum for one day. If 1,000 people can turn out for one day, surely that supports the notion that this can be maintained on a long-term basis. Such a facility would boost ecotourism. There are no fisheries museums and it would be an important educational facility. The Minister said he did not have to do anything. However, should he not develop such a facility - there is no such facility in any other part of Ireland - for tourism and employment purposes?

I do not dispute the Deputy's comments about the merits of this project, but my Department has no role in the provision of funding for this type of project. Other Departments may have and it should be noted that the Deputy's question was transferred to my Department from another Department. We have a responsibility for the protection of seals, but we are not responsible for their rehabilitation or the provision of a museum relating to them.

I was in Balbriggan as I was invited there by a former Deputy, Trevor Sargent. There was a big buy-in from the local people for the pop-up museum on that occasion. It is a very good idea and there is potential for a project in future if the council gets together with the appropriate statutory authority that might have funding for this type of project. Perhaps other sources of funding could be available in addition to local funding. I do not dispute the merit of what Deputy Daly has proposed but my Department has neither the resources nor the responsibility for the matter.

We have a problem in that the Minister referred to “the appropriate statutory authority”, but that is not the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht nor the Department to which I originally tabled the question. Yet everyone thinks it is a very good idea. Surely the Government, as the authority in power, has the answer as to which is the correct authority to approach. If the desire exists for the establishment of a maritime museum, which it should, and if we are to protect seals, then their rehabilitation is part of the project. It is an important environmental issue but it is also a critically important job creation project as well in the sense of developing tourism. If the Minister is not responsible but thinks the museum is a good idea, could he indicate which Department is responsible so that we can match it up with Fingal County Council and the volunteers at the Irish Seal Sanctuary? The other side of the equation is that Government moneys have been given to private operators such as Tayto Park and other operators in Dingle for seals and maritime activity, but they are more commercial outlets and are not animal welfare facilities of the type provided by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, which will be needed in the future if we are to preserve the species. That is the job of the Department.

My responsibility is to designate certain special areas of conservation to protect seals, which I do, as a result of which they are protected in habitats where they typically live. However, I do not have responsibility for the rehabilitation of seals. I suggest that the council might be the appropriate body to promote the project and develop it in conjunction with local people and organisations. As someone who has been involved in promoting and creating a number of projects in different areas, I sincerely offer my assistance to Deputy Daly. We can discuss the matter afterwards and I will give her any direction I can, as I know she is very committed and sincere about the project.

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