Funding for the planned Cliffs of Moher visitor centre passed the first stage in the application process yesterday when members of Clare County Council gave the go-ahead for a €15 million loan to be raised.
This is a necessary prerequisite in order to secure grant-aid funding of €12.5 million for the centre.
Clare County Council's best chance of proceeding with the €25 million Cliffs of Moher plan lies with a grant-aid application to Bord Fáilte through the tourism product development scheme of the National Development Plan.
However, as part of the proposals submitted to Bord Fáilte, the council must show that it has matching funding for any grant awarded.
Although Shannon Development has joined with the council in recent months in developing a business plan for the project, its chief executive, Mr Kevin Thompstone, has told Clare county manager Mr Alec Fleming that the regional development agency has no money to fund the project.
Also, at the council's June meeting, its director of services for economic development, Mr Ger Dollard, said that Shannon Development has not yet made a decision as to whether it would formally join the council in developing the centre.
Shannon Development operates the existing tearooms at the cliffs, which the council is in the process of compulsorily purchasing in order to proceed with the visitor centre plan.
In his report to councillors, Mr Dollard did not rule out private sector involvement in the project.
Even before works start on the centre, the council must spend €5 million to carry out upgrading works on the cliff edge to comply with the planning conditions laid down by the Bord Pleanála decision to grant planning permission for the project.
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