THE Labour Party in
Inishowen has called for an end to the row over the
location of the peninsula's tourism agency saying it
should not become a "Carn versus Buncrana" issue.
The local branch of the party met last week in
Carndonagh and called on cross-party councillors to
give "meaningful help" towards the retention of the
Inishowen Tourism office in Carndonagh.
The party claims a promise was made some years ago
to house Inishowen Tourism and a number of other
social agencies in the Carndonagh Public Services
Centre. However, they say rents were prohibitive
despite the fact that some of the rooms in the
state-of-the-art centre lay empty.
"Accommodation was promised on the Carndonagh
(Public Services Centre site) for Inishowen Tourism,
Action Inishowen and Inishowen Rural Development Ltd
and staff members of these organisations were
actively involved in deciding the layout of the
building," said a Labour Party spokesperson.
"However, when the building was completed, things
changed and the rents were affordable only by
Government bodies. Dublin prices, not Donegal. This
meant that the local voluntary organisations had to
remain in lower-priced accommodation whilst space
lay idle in the new building."
A motion was passed at last week's Labour Party
meeting calling on councillors to revisit the
original consultation documents and offer Inishowen
Tourism a permanent home in the Public Services
Centre. The motions calls for the accommodation to
be granted at a “social” rent to allow Inishowen
Tourism "deliver an important service to all of
Inishowen".
Inishowen Tourism is currently funded by Pobal under
the Community Services Programme, CSP. There are 13
CSP projects in Inishowen, some also involved in
tourism including Fort Dunree, Greencastle Maritime
Museum and Tullyarvan Mill which are all funded to
the same staff levels as Inishowen Tourism. "All can
deliver a seven-days a week service during the
tourist season. There is no reason why Inishowen
Tourism could not deliver a similar level of
service," added the spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party called for the debate
not to develop into a Carndonagh versus Buncrana
issue.
"Inishowen Tourism could remain in the geographic
centre of Inishowen and be responsible for 10 Failte
Ireland-sponsored tourist IT terminals in CSP funded
facilities spread all around the peninsula.
"It is time for the Inishowen councillors to take
the initiative and give tourism in Inishowen a
much-needed boost at minimal cost to the peninsula.
If they do then the local tourism industry will not
be found wanting," added the Labour Party
spokesperson. |
