MAYO BENEFITS FROM BUDGET MAJOR INVESTMENT PLANS FOR BELDERRIG / CÉIDE FIELDS AREA

Dr Tom Moffat TD, Minister for State at the Department of Health and Mr Noel Treacy TD, Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, have confirmed today, (2nd December 1998), that an allocation of £500,000 has been made for the construction of a major Research and Study Centre, at Belderrig, adjacent to the Céide Fields Visitor Centre, in Co. Mayo.

This project, which will be a partnership headed by Mayo VEC, will also include Mayo County Council, the Ceide Fields Research Centre and the Belderrig Community and Research Foundation.

In welcoming this major development for Mayo, Minister Treacy stated that our commitment to this project, was an investment in the rich aspects of the area, not least its people, with their strong commitment to develop and sustain the community. Research in Belderrig, over the past 30 years has shown that blanket bog, which covers most of North Mayo, has preserved intact the fields and farmlands, of over five thousand years ago, on the surface of the mineral soil, which lies beneath it.

The White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, made reference to the European paradox meaning, that Europe is strong on Science, but weak on Innovation in terms of turning Science, into products and profits. This was not the case in Belderrig, because the pure research, carried out in Belderrig over the past 30 years, has been acknowledged as being of major international significance. Since 1988 this pure research, has led to projects, which have improved the economic life of the area, not least being the Céide Fields Centre.

Local TD and Minister of State, Dr Tom Moffat TD said that he was delighted to be part of a Government, which was prepared to capitalise on its economic success, by transferring resources to the rural regions of the country, especially the west and Co. Mayo, in particular.

"The research facility will be complimentary to the Ceide Fields Visitor Centre and will play an important role in ensuring the long term viability of that project through the creation of new research results, necessary for the continuation of the Ceide Fields story. The potential to carry out human/environmental research, within the environs of this rural village, are without parallel nationally and internationally" concluded Dr Moffatt.

Castlebar based, Deputy Beverly Cooper Flynn, stated that she was delighted with the Governments initiative and investment in North Mayo. It will be of major long term benefit, to the entire county, she added.

Newport based, Senator Frank Chambers stated that the project was an ideal one, to stimulate local economic growth and rural renewal. It was a model for the future he added, involving the community, statutory bodies and the State.

Minister Treacy, said that the project announced today related to the construction of the Belderrig Environmental Research and Study Centre, which will provide a facility for researchers to exploit with Belderrig, the unique and proven potential for the study of the long term relationships between people, climate and land, to disseminate the results of the research from Belderrig and to provide a centre for study and field work for native and foreign participants. The development will provide a permanent base for the archaeological and ecological research of international significance, which has been carried out on a much smaller scale in Belderrig since the 1960s. It will also provide a facility, where a wide variety of courses at second and third level, as well as extra mural adult type courses, which may be offered.

In conclusion, Minister Treacy stated that he would put in place the necessary arrangements, both in his Department and Development Agencies, to work with the partnership in developing the project. He paid special tribute to Dr Seamus Caulfield, Professor Martin Downes, Mr Joe Langan and Mr Des Mahon who, alongwith the local community, have spearheaded this project with the support of the Oireachtas members and Public representatives.