Written Answers. - Decision on Proposed Interpretative Centres.
Liz McManus
Ceist:
36
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for Finance
when a final decision will be made on the proposed interpretative centres at the Burren, Wicklow and the Boyne Valley; the number of submissions or completed questionnaires he has received regarding each of these proposed centres; if he will give the total cost of the consultative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced my decision in relation to the three visitor centres at the Burren, Boyne Valley and Luggala yesterday. I am attaching a copy of my statement on this matter, for the information of the House, which answers most of the various points raised by the Deputy.
In relation to the cost of the Consultative Process, final costs are not yet available, but the total outlay involved is of the order of approximately £150,000.
Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Noel Dempsey TD, announces plans for proposed Visitor Centres at Mullaghmore, County Clare; Luggala, County Wicklow and The Boyne Valley, County Meath.
Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, today (22 November 1993) made public his decisions regarding the plans for visitor centres at Mullaghmore, County Clare; Luggala, County Wicklow and the Boyne Valley, County Meath. Before announcing the substance of the decision, Mr. Dempsey described the background to his decisions.
"On June 2 this year the Government decided that before applying for planning permission for the three centres in Clare, Wicklow and Meath, the Office of Public Works should consult widely. Following that decision, I instructed the Office of Public Works to engage in the ‘widest possible consultation'. The consultative process which followed involved a two-way flow of information. As well as giving out clear and accurate information about the proposed centres and the philosophy behind them, we also set up structures to facilitiate extensive feedback from the public," said Minister Dempsey.
The Office of Public Works delivered a comprehensive fact sheet to thousands of homes in the areas concerned, each newsletter containing a questionnaire to facilitate public feedback. The Office of Public Works held meetings with interested groups and set up a series of local exhibitions in each area, which were manned by Office of Public Works personnel. There was also a freephone line open to the public on which to register comments.
During the two month consultation period, the Minister received 1,363 written submissions ranging from one page letters to substantial and well researched documents. Each of these submissions was read by the Minister.
The Minister expressed his gratitude to all who made submissions, written or oral, and was particularly pleased at the manner in which submissions were made. Previously, he said, the debate had involved an unnecessary and unhelpful level of acrimony which has, in most quarters, been replaced by calm consultation. "I am confident" said Mr. Dempsey, "that following this extensive consultation my decision is as well informed as is possible."
The Minister said that his decision on each area was based primarily on conservation, preservation and environmental grounds, but also had to take into account the broader economic context, where this did not conflict with the most important concern of conservation.
Before announcing each decision in detail the Minister concluded "The consultation process has taught all at the Office of Public Works the value of consultation and open management. From this point on it will be Office of Public Works policy to involve local communities in all decisions about major developments in their areas.
The Burren
Bearing in mind the need to reconcile the two demands of conservation on the one hand and access for social and economic reasons on the other, the Minister summarised his decision on the Burren as follows:
"I have decided that the Office of Public Works should apply for planning permission for a revised Visitor Centre at the location where building has already begun. The plans will be revised in terms of size, visitor access and freedom of movement and by an independent monitoring of the effluent treatment system. In the future running of the centre the Office of Public Works is also committed to establishing a National Park Liaison Committee to ensure the involvement of the local community is facilitated."
Liaison Committee and Region Wide cooperation
—The Burren National Park Liaison Committee will be set up to facilitate dialogue and local input on development of the Park.
—In consultation with the Liaison Committee, the Office of Public Works will prepare and publish a draft management plan for the Park.
—The Office of Public Works will endeavour to establish an overall management plan for the entire Burren region in conjunction with local authorities, voluntary organisations, community groups, tourist bodies etc.
—The Office of Public Works will develop a close working relationship with the Burren Display Centre at Kilfenora, which will include the facilitating of joint booking arrangements, marketing, signage etc.
—The Office of Public Works will also develop its heritage sites at Kilfenora and support the designation for Kilfenora as a Heritage Town. It will also assist in the upgrading of the existing Centre.
—The Office of Public Works will endeavour to establish a networking system with existing and planned Visitor Centres in Clare, to optimise the economic benefits to the entire community.
Environmental Protection
The Minister summarised the specific environmental concerns into three areas: visual intrusion; threat to flora and fauna and other delicate features of the area; protection of ground waters.
—Visual intrusion will be minimised by a reduction in the overall size of the proposed building by 12.5 per cent. A portion of the building will also be reduced in height from 14 feet to 12 feet. The Centre is located in a disused quarry and in an area which has already been seriously degraded. All development will take place in this area alone.
—Much of the area surrounding the site will be designated anature reserve. This will have the effect of limiting general access to the area.
—The threat to flora and fauna and other delicate features is heightened by visitors roaming in a haphazard manner around the landscape. Visitors will be directed by means of signposted walking trails around the area of the Centre.
Access to Mullaghmore mountain will not be encouraged, and those few people who will still go there will be directed along carefully selected, signposted walking routes.
—Access to the site will be restricted. All coaches will be pre-booked and the number of coaches accepted daily to the centre will be limited. Coaches over and above this limit will be referred to Kilfenora and other Centres.
—A code of behaviour for the Burren will be drawn up and distributed to all visitors to the new Centre to encourage visitors to respect the delicate eco system of the Burren landscape.
—A state of the art effluent treatment system has already been approved and a licence was granted by Clare County Council, whose decision has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála. Rigorous conditions have been laid down in the licence, all of which will be met. The waste will be treated four times before release.
In addition, to allay fear further, there will be independent monitoring of the effluent before it is discharged. In the unlikely event of any failure, the centre will be shut until the problem is solved.
Wicklow Mountains National Park
Following the public consultation, the Minister said that it was now clear that people had genuinely held fears and concerns which had not been properly addressed in earlier stages of the controversy. Said Minister Dempsey, "Much of the controversy had arisen because local people had not been involved in the decision making process. Some of the concerns people had were ill-informed or based on inaccurate perceptions and might have been allayed sooner if the Office of Public Works had been more open from the outset."
The Minister continued "There were some fears about the impact on the local community, in particular the farming community, of the National Park itself. Let me state now categorically the fol lowing: The Office of Public Works will not acquire land compulsorily; the Office of Public Works will not seek to reduce sheep numbers through buying or suppressing grazing rights; the Office of Public Works cannot and will not seek the closure of any roads in the area."
The Minister said that the consultation process had confirmed for him the absolute necessity for local community input in planning initiatives such as Visitor Centres.
Wicklow National Park Management Liaison Committee and Plans for the Region
—To ensure that fears based on inaccurate perceptions do not arise again, the Minister said that a Wicklow National Park Liaison Committee will be established. The Committee will be made up of local public representatives and community groups. This committee will have ongoing input and involvement in the management and development of the Park.
—A draft plan for the management of the National Park will be prepared with the involvement of the Committee.
—The management plan will include the Minister's commitment to a further Visitor Centre in West Wicklow. The location of this proposed centre is to be determined only after full public consultation has taken place.
Environmental Concerns
Specific fears about Luggala included the prospect of heavy coach traffic and the economic impact on local towns and villages.
—Access to the site at Luggala will be changed. The Minister announced that the Office of Public Works has reached agreement with a local landowner which will permit a different and safer entrance to the site than originally proposed.
—The environmental impact is minimal as the site is a commercial conifer development of little conservation value, hosting very little flora or fauna. Both Local Authority and An Taisce reports have recognised that the visual impact of the centre would be negligible. However, the Minister has instructed the Office of Public Works to apply for planning permission for a building reduced in scale by 22 per cent from the original proposal submitted to Wicklow County Council.
—Effluent treatment concerns are also addressed. Waste will be treated to a tertiary level followed by sterilisation and discharge to a percolated bed. This process will be strictly monitored and will also include an automatic alarm and shutdown facility.
Traffic Problems and Threats to Local Town and Village Economies
—The Minister announced that the Office of Public Works will establish its National Park Headquarters at Roundwood village. The Park Headquarters will provide car and coach parking facilities. Coaches will have to be pre-booked for the Visitor Centre.
"During the high season coaches will use the Park Headquarters as a drop off point. Then passengers will be transported by mini-bus to the centre. In these periods and on Sundays and bank holidays, the minibuses will be used as an internal park bus system," said Minister Dempsey.
The Minister said that the establishment of the headquarters in Roundwood village will bring substantial benefits to the village. "In addition," he said "a tourist office will be accommodated within the headquarters which will direct visitors to other attractions in Wicklow. This will ensure that the socio-economic benefits of the Visitor Centre can be shared as widely as possible throughout the area."
The Minister concluded by saying that the decision on the proposed Visitor Centre at Luggala was not the end of the issue but the beginning of an ongoing process of shared management and conservation of the entire region.
The Boyne Valley
The proposed Visitor Centre is to be progressed largely as proposed. Minister Dempsey has instructed the Office of Public Works to apply for planning permission based on the designs already prepared.
"The strategy to develop a Visitor Centre was developed as an urgent requirement to relieve the considerable pressures on the monuments from existing visitor numbers and to prevent further damage to Newgrange in particular, said Minister Dempsey.
In keeping with the new policy at the Office of Public Works all management and development of heritage areas will be carried out with the aid of public consultation. With this in mind, Minister Dempsey announced the establishment of a consultation forum which will enable the local community and public representatives to have ongoing input and involvement in the Bru na Boinne Heritage Area. Said Minister Dempsey, "I recognise that the participation of the local community in future initiatives is an absolute necessity and the Office of Public Works will be pro-active in facilitating this dialogue in the future."
The Minister said that the consultation process in the Boyne Valley region brought to light concerns not only regarding the site itself, but also for the socio-economic wellbeing of the area as a whole. "As a local Deputy I am obviously very keen that the entire area benefit from the development of the centre. Office of Public Works, MERTO and Meath County Council will co-operate to enhance the attractions of Slane, the nearest town for visitors. By doubling visitor numbers and lengthening their stay time in the locality, the Centre will have a positive impact on the local economy. The Office of Public Works will also provide accommodation at the new Visitor Centre for a tourist office, providing details of services and attractions in the whole area of County Meath."
Environmental Impact
—The Minister stated that after careful consideration of all issues and submissions of the consultation process, he was satisfied that the environmental impact of the Centre is minimal. "It is virtually underground" said the Minister, "being set into an excavated knoll of shale with a grassed roof. The car park will be hidden behind existing mature hedgerows and the centre will be virtually invisible when viewed from Newgrange itself, 2kms away across the river."
—Like the proposed Centre for Wicklow, effluent from the Centre will be treated to tertiary standard and both the county council and Regional Fisheries Board are satisfied with the arrangements for treatment and disposal of sewage.
—Traffic concerns will be addressed by a proposed minibus system which will distribute visitors throughout the archaeological area.
—The minibus system will at all times be managed in consultation with the residents in the locality. In response to their concerns, an engineering and archaeological survey is being carried out to investigate the possibility of a supplementary route being built for the minibus service.
"I believe that these measures will ensure the development will take place in an environmentally sensitive way and with the broad support of the local communities. They will allow the Office of Public Works to continue to preserve and conserve the areas concerned and to present them for the benefit of all", concluded the Minister.
