asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether, in view of the impossibility of a small urban council such as Bray, County Wicklow finding their contribution towards moneys needed to properly develop Bray without imposing unsustainable rate increases on the public, he will reconsider the system under which moneys are allocated for such projects so that a greater percentage could be found from the tourist board funds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development Projects.
38.
The provision of grants for the development of major tourist resorts is a statutory function of Bord Fáilte for the discharge of which the Tourist Traffic Act, 1959 provided a fund of £1 million. It is a condition of the scheme administered by the Board that there should be a substantial local contribution. I see no reason to alter this condition. I do not accept the contention that an appropriate local contribution places an unsustainable burden on the rates, having regard to the local benefits likely to accrue from such development.