Vol. 547 No. 1
890 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the position regarding the provision of a cablecar for Inishbiggle Island, County Mayo; when the cablecar will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2083/02]
In July 2000, a grant of £1.45 million was approved by my predecessor to Mayo County Council for the provision of a cablecar and associated services between Inishbiggle and the mainland at Bullsmouth. This grant was based on a total estimated construction cost of £1.6 million with Mayo County Council to provide the balance of £150,000.
While it was hoped that construction of the cablecar would have commenced in the spring of 2002 and that the service would be fully operational by the spring of 2003, an objection was lodged with An Bord Pleanála last year against one of the compulsory purchase orders in respect of the land required for the project. A public hearing of this appeal took place on 11 September 2001, the result of which is currently awaited from An Bord Pleanála. Unfortunately, the project cannot be progressed further until the result of the appeal is known.
