Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

The Tanagh outdoor education centre was established in 1992 by County Monaghan Vocational Education Committee. It is situated in Tanagh, on the Cavan-Monaghan border just outside Cootehill. It is set in the heart of the Dromore water system, adjoining Dartrey forest. The centre is located 112 km from both Dublin and Belfast. The original building served as a residence for the land steward of the nearby Dartrey estate, later becoming a seminary and later still an army barracks. Since 1992, it has served as a centre for outdoor pursuits, under the auspices of County Monaghan VEC.

I have tabled this Adjournment matter because the lease on this building comes to an end in September 2007. In any event, the existing building is coming to the end of its useful life and a new centre is required. In 2004, there were 6,059 visitors to the centre and that figure rose to 8,691 in 2005. So far this year, there have been 10,000 visitors to the centre. Some 2,000 potential visitors had to be refused because the centre did not have the capacity to deal with them.

Coillte has agreed to sell County Monaghan VEC five acres of land for €106,000. The site is located in the centre of Dartrey forest, which comprises 2,000 acres of afforestation. The Tanagh centre serves a useful purpose for communities both in Counties Cavan and Monaghan, as well as other counties North and South of the Border. It is a vitally necessary piece of infrastructure. In September this year, I understand that County Monaghan VEC received a letter from the Minister for Education and Science. The letter stated that capital investment in the outdoor education centre at Tanagh, or indeed any other education centres, is likely to fall into a band 4 rating, which is not a high priority, in dispersing the Department's capital allocation. The letter stated that, accordingly, the Department is not in a position to approve the proposed expenditure in this regard. This is unacceptable, however. County Monaghan VEC would like permission to purchase from Coillte the five acres needed for the future expansion of the Tanagh outdoor education centre.

I wish to pay tribute to the hard-working committee in charge of the centre, as well as its 18 dedicated volunteers. The committee managing the centre represents the whole community in that area. I urge the Minister to do his best to accede to these demands.