Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 5

Written Answers. - County Clare Interpretative Centre.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

29 Ms F. Fitzgerals asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the capital and maintenance/monitoring costs of the proposed Interpretative Centre at Mullaghmore, County Clare, would compare with the costs required if the development had been sited in a local village/settlement with existing sewerage facilities.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

30 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the amount of expenditure which has been incurred for consultancy fees in connection with the sewerage treatment/effluent discharge aspects of the visitor centre project at Mullaghmore, County Clare.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.

As the House will know work on this project has been suspended pending the outcome of an appeal to the Supreme Court on whether the Office of Public Works require planning permission for this development. No decision will be taken on whether or not to continue with this project until the Supreme Court's decision is available.

It is not possible to give a firm indication of the various operation costs that may be incurred should the visitor centre be completed. The operation costs of other centres under the control of the Office of Public Works are met from the overall budget allocated for the management of the property generally. Monitoring and maintenance costs for the visitor centre would arise regardless of where the centre is located. These costs would vary considerably depending on a number of factors, for example the materials used, the design, usage, etc. rather than on the location chosen. There is no evidence that these costs would be significantly different if the proposed development was sited in a town or village nearby.

The location of a visitor centre cannot be considered solely on direct costs. The centre, to be effective, must try to achieve access objectives. The management of visitor access is essential in order to ensure that conservation objectives are achieved. On-site visitor facilities can contribute positively to the conservation of a natural heritage site such as the Burren National Park in a way that is not possible if those facilities are provided in towns and villages. Visitors to the proposed centre can experience something of the essential quality of the park in a situation where it is possible to channel their movements to prevent undesirable impacts on it. I would like to point out also that the proposed visitor centre and treatment plant has been approved by the local authority and complies will all the relevant EC Directives. Plants in existing villages do not all meet the same standard.

The cost of consultancy fees in connection with the treatment/effluent aspects of the visitor centre amounts to £39,344.00. The results of the investigations will be of benefit also in the management and protection of the park's natural resources.