Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I am disappointed that IFI did not consider it necessary to discuss this proposition with the stakeholders in Ballina. There is a need to further tease out the issues, including those relating to costs. The headline in The Western People referred to plans to develop a €2 million interpretative centre, but IFI has not provided any details in respect of its plans. From what the Minister of State outlined, I accept there may just be a difference in scale in the context of the projects for Ballina and Cong. If improvements are needed at the facility in Cong, I welcome the fact they will be proceeded with, but the people of Ballina have invested a great deal of effort in respect of the salmon life centre project. As recently as last year, some of those involved with the project travelled to Norway to carry out research. We have both a site and planning permission and there is a need for IFI to engage with us to resolve the issues relating to Ballina. There was never any suggestion that IFI was going to be obliged to pay for the building of the centre in Ballina. The real issue relates to the management and running costs that will arise when the construction phase is completed. Such costs would obviously arise in respect of any project.

There are questions which remain unanswered and it might be better, as the Minister of State suggests, for these to be teased out further with IFI. I would welcome it if he would ensure the meeting he intends to arrange will involve input from all the stakeholders in order that we might get to the bottom of this matter once and for all. I would also welcome it if IFI renewed its commitment to Ballina and if some positive developments were forthcoming.

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