Vol. 453 No. 6
69 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the timetable, if any, regarding the dismantling and demolition of the structures on the abandoned interpretative centre sites at Luggala and Mullaghmore; and the plans, if any, he has for the siting of visitor centres in the respective national parks in adjoining population centres. [9905/95]
As I indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 12, 15, 31, 41 and 42 on 26 Aibreán 1995, planning permission for the Wicklow National Park Visitor Centre was refused by An Bord Pleanála and the planning application for the Burren National Park Visitor Centre was withdrawn on the 31st March, 1995. Final decisions as to what use if any is to be made of the works already carried out will not be determined until draft management plans for the Wicklow and Burren National Parks have been prepared and the public have been given the opportunity of contributing to them. As I have indicated previously it may be desirable to carry out some works at these sites, pending the outcome of the consultation process, with the permission of the courts and the consent of the relevant local authorities where necessary. In the circumstances outlined above, the question of a timetable does not arise at this time.
The siting of visitor centres for the two national parks will be included in the terms of reference of the consultants whom I propose to commission to prepare management plans for the national parks in the context of conservation strategies for the wider areas of Counties Clare and Wicklow.
