Management of the proposed centre at Corofin which will interpret the Burren National Park and the subject facility will be closely linked. Visitors to the Corofin centre who wish to experience the National Park at first hand will be directed to the visitor entry point proposed at Gortlecka. Similarly, these centres will display the locations and details of the others in the network. It is proposed that there would be co-operation and information exchange between the centres including annual review meetings but day to day management will remain a matter for those groups or individuals responsible for running the centres. The facility at Gortlecka, the subject of this application, will be provided if planning permission is granted.
Arrangements are already in train to reach agreement on the facilities at the other locations.
If planning permission for the Gortlecka facility is not achieved then a reassessment of the nature and scale and the involvement of the Heritage Service at the other locations will be necessary. If permission is obtained for the Gortlecka facility then planning applications will be submitted for them at other locations within six months of a successful planning application for the Gortlecka site. The time scale for works to be undertaken by voluntary groups or private individuals will be dependent on, inter alia, planning permission. It is intended that the Department will fund the developments at Gortlecka, Corofin and Ballyvaughan. The Heritage Service will directly manage the Gortlecka facility and fund construction of the Corofin facility and will occupy part of it as National Park offices.