Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the Ceardlinn business units at Dingle, County Kerry, were closed by Udarás na Gaeltachta in 2006/07; if there was a cost associated with this closure; if the units will be made available to interested tenants in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19790/11]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that a decision was taken to close the Ceardlann in An Daingean due to a general level of dissatisfaction with the facility as a retail centre. I understand that this dissatisfaction resulted from the lack of tourist footfall at the facility due to its location at a distance from the town centre.

Vacation of the Ceardlann, which was completed in December 2010, cost in the region of €102,000 which consisted of:

· some €80,000 associated with obtaining vacant possession from tenants; and

· some €22,000 associated with obtaining planning permission for the redevelopment of the Ceardlann as a mini-business park.

In light of significant budgetary constraints, Údarás na Gaeltachta is not in a position to undertake the redevelopment of the Ceardlann. However, the matter is being kept under review.