asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the potential of the area for tourist development and the fact that the West Wicklow report noted a scarcity of hotel, guesthouse and farmhouse accommodation in the area, he will apply the grants normally reserved for the western counties to West Wicklow and thus increase incomes in the area which are at present well below the national average.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wicklow Tourist Development.
9.
The grants available for tourist development in the western counties take account of the remoteness of these areas from our main tourist market. These considerations do not apply in the case of West Wicklow; neither are the problems of this area of the same order of magnitude as those of the western counties. In the circumstances I cannot agree to the suggestion contained in the question. I understand, however, that the Minister for Finance, in recognition of the problems of West Wicklow, has assisted in the appointment of a development officer for the area.