227 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the financial allocation and spend for each of the past four years for the implementation of the Habitats Directive and the conservation of natural heritage in view of the allocation of £93 million for the conservation of archaeological heritage in the recent past. [26023/00]

The allocations and spend for the national parks and wildlife services of my Department for the implementation of the habitats directive and the conservation of natural heritage for each of the years 1997 – 2000 are as follows:

228 Mr. Gildea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands with reference to the ESB's proposal to construct a new high tension power line through some of the most sensitive and protected areas of County Donegal, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the ESB has conceded that it is technically feasible to lay the proposed line underground but that it refuses to consider this option on grounds of cost; the reason all other utilities have to bear the cost of burying their service lines, including increasingly telecom's but the ESB is allowed to claim immunity from such costs and is thereby permitted to inflict severe damage on the environment in sensitive and protected areas. [26093/00]

229 Mr. Gildea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current inaction of Dúchas in the matter of driving an ESB high tension powerline through national heritage areas in County Donegal could result in prosecution by the European Court of Justice for breach of the EU Habitats Directive; and if she is prepared to risk this country being found guilty for the desecration of some of the finest wilderness scenery. [26094/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.