Vol. 426 No. 7
126 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine the name(s) of the person(s) paying for the radio mast which is being erected at Loop Head, County Clare; the cost of the land on which it is being erected; and if he will comment on claims that the UK authorities declined on scientific and health grounds to erect this mast in Cumbria.
I would refer the Deputy to the Adjournment Debate on Wednesday, 17 February when I dealt at some length with the Loran C proposal.
The total capital expenditure on the European Loran C system will amount to £19 million of which Ireland's net share will be £1.5 million. 50 per cent and 5 per cent of the gross cost of the Irish station will be met by the French and Dutch Governments respectively. The main equipment manufacturer has also agreed to rebate the cost of construction in Ireland by a substantial amount. The possibility of some Community funding under the Operational Programme on Peripherality is being pursued at present.
I am advised that the total cost of acquiring land from a number of landowners was of the order of £360,000.
The UK authorities had originally intended joining the North West European Loran C chain but subsequently decided for financial considerations to accept an offer from Racal Decca to continue using the existing Decca navigation system until at least 1998. I am advised that the UK Government did not reject Loran C on scientific, environmental or health grounds.
