Marine centre could yet be refloated
PRIVATE FUNDS TO BE SOUGHT
Wednesday February 03 2010
PRIVATE funding could yet rescue the Irish Seal Sanctuary's dream project of a Marine Conservation Centre for Fingal's coastline which appeared all but dead after the council withdrew funding for the project.
Following the council's decision that the project was 'not viable' as it is currently designed, a public war of words between local authority officials and the chief proponent of the project, Brendan Price from the Irish Seal Sanctuary (ISS). But now the ISS have asked the council to clear the way for a privatelyfunded Marine Conservation Centre, either on the existing site earmarked for the project at Bremore or an alternative site. The ISS have asked that the council provide a 'letter of comfort' committing to providing the site for the project if private backers can be found. Stephen Peppard, Senior Executive Officer in Fingal County Council, told a meeting of local councillors that the local authority was considering that proposal from the sanctuary and trying to work out an appropriate frame of words for such a letter, should it agree to provide it. He attached a health warning to the development though, saying the project still had 'an uncertain future at best'. Mr Peppard confirmed that the € 2 million in funding from Fáilte Ireland was still on the table, as far as the council was aware, but that funding had 'a lot of strings attached'. The issue came up on foot of a motion put forward by Cllr Clare Daly (SP), calling on the council to do whatever it could to assist the ISS in realising the project. Cllr May McKeon (NP), said she also supported the initiative but said she had doubts about the current proposed location for the project at Bremore in Balbriggan, which she believes is 'not suitable'. She said she would support any move to seek an alternative site in the area for the facility. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Ciaran Byrne (Lab), said the project had 'considerable tourism potential' and the county should 'not let go of the possibility' of making it a reality.
He said the facility would also provide educational and marine conservation opportunities and that the council should give whatever support it could.
- John MANNING
