asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that some Cork hotel-keepers have been informed by the Tourist Board that they must spend upwards of £2,000 in order to bring their premises up to the standard recommended by Colonel Pozzi of E.C.A.; and if so, whether he will institute a scheme of loans either through the Tourist Board or through his Department, similar to the scheme now in operation in Northern Ireland, so as to enable these people to carry out the board's instructions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loans for Cork Hoteliers.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am aware that a number of hotel-keepers have been advised by the board that improvements are necessary to comply with the board's requirements or to qualify for registration in a higher category. As regards the second part of the question, the Irish Tourist Board has, in fact, authority to provide loans to owners of hotels, etc., for improvement or extension of holiday accommodation, but there has been a complete lack of interest in the scheme on the part of hotel-keepers and others concerned.
Is the Minister aware that owing to the rate of interest for these loans they have not been applied for, and would he answer my question as to whether he would introduce a scheme similar to that for loans in Northern Ireland?
I do not know anything about the scheme in Northern Ireland. All I know is that a scheme of loans was provided here under the 1946 Act and not a single loan has been applied for under that Act, as far as I am informed.
I asked the Minister if he was going to introduce a scheme similar to the one introduced in the Six Counties and he says he knows nothing about it.
I know nothing about the Six Counties scheme.