CLARE County Council has deferred its decision on the latest plan for a visitor facility near Mullaghmore, in the heart of the Burren, following many objections from conservation bodies.
The council was due to decide on the planning application submitted by the Office of Public Works by last Monday, but it is seeking further information on the scheme covering many of the points raised by objectors.
These include the likely socioeconomic impact of the proposed development - a scaled-down version of the visitor centre initially planned for Mullaghmore - as well as further details of sewage treatment arrangements.
All the organisations that opposed the previous plan are also objecting to the latest scheme, including An Taisce, Earthwatch, Green peace, the Burren Action Group and the Mountaineering Council of Ireland.
They have been joined by the Heritage Council - now established on a statutory basis which has argued that the OPW's scheme was "contrary to the accepted approaches to sustainable development".
In a detailed submission the council said it would be "inappropriate" to locate a visitor facility in the middle of an area of "extremely high conservation value" which should be afforded the highest level of protection.
It also said the proposed development would be premature, before a management plan for the Burren National Park is adopted, taking into account the need to control visitor numbers in highly sensitive areas.
Noting that the Cliffs of Moher attracted up to 900,000 visitors annually, the council said it was "impossible to determine the likely future impact" of the scheme as there had been inadequate consideration of this issue.
The proposed visitor facility near Mullaghmore could lead to an "uncontrollable increase" in tourist numbers, which would require further development at a later stage to manage the extra visitors, it warned.
Until the "fundamental problems" of managing the whole landscape had been confronted, it said, "there cannot be an effective conservation policy in the Burren, nor should a decision be taken in favour of this application".
The Heritage Council reports to the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht on whose behalf the OPW lodged the latest plan. Mr Higgins was once one of the most vocal opponents of the earlier scheme for Mullaghmore.
It was also Mr Higgins who ordered the OPW in March 1995 to withdraw its first planning application for a larger visitor centre at the site before Clare County Council had made a decision on whether to grant or refuse permission.
. The Burren Action Group's annual Save Mullaghmore walk takes place on January 1st. Further information may be obtained by telephoning 065-32970 or 091-6381 55.
