asked the Minister for Transport and Power if in view of the need to expand tourist accommodation he will now consider making financial assistance available to guesthouses and private house owners who are prepared to provide accommodation for tourists; and if he will make a full statement on the question of future accommodation needs of the tourist industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Accommodation.
15.
Cash grants amounting to 20 per cent of the cost are provided by Bord Fáilte for the construction of additional guesthouse bedrooms or the improvement of existing guesthouse accommodation. Heretofore, these grants were confined to guesthouses which would have ten guest bedrooms on completion of the project. I recently authorised Bord Fáilte to make grants available to guesthouses which would have five guest bedrooms on completion of the project. Owners of private houses can avail of these grants to enable them to attain registrable standard.
I have also authorised the payment of grants of 50 per cent of the cost, up to a maximum of £75, of architectural surveys of registered premises with less than 20 bedrooms, provided the associated development works proceed.
Registered guesthouses are also eligible for assistance in the form of guaranteed loans and interest grants.
Bord Fáilte recently carried out an investigation of accommodation requirements and have estimated that it will be necessary to provide 2,000 additional bedrooms a year up to and including 1970 to achieve the target set for tourism in the Second Programme for Economic Expansion. Of the total of 2,000 bedrooms, it is estimated that 1,200 should be in hotels, 300 in guesthouses and the remainder in supplementary accommodation. The various schemes of financial assistance administered by Bord Fáilte are designed to encourage private enterprise to reach these targets.
Can the Minister say how much has been paid in the past 12 months on that basis?
I would not have that figure off by heart.