andMr. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that Cork County Council (West) received no grant for resort development work from Bord Fáilte last year and so far has not been notified of any proposed grants for the current year; and whether, in view of the urgent necessity for a substantial contribution towards the cost of amenity development work in west Cork, he will ensure that a substantial grant is made in the immediate future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Resort Development.
14.
The allocation of funds voted for the major resort development scheme is a matter for Bord Fáilte. I am informed by the board that under the scheme they contributed over £38,000 last year towards resort development works carried out by the county council in west Cork at a total cost of £56,000. This brought total expenditure to date on resort works in west Cork to more than £121,000. The county council have submitted to the board proposals for further works to be carried out in the current year and these are at present being considered by Bord Fáilte together with proposals for resort development works in other major resorts and resort areas.
It is regrettable that the Minister for Transport and Power is absent but is the Minister aware that the money allocated was for the year 1968-69? There was no allocation for 1969-70. Is he further aware that Bord Fáilte told us they had no money unless the Minister's Department would make it available? Hence, the necessity for the question. Is the Minister further aware that we have more undeveloped tourist resort areas in west Cork than in any other part of the county and if so, will he ask the Minister on his return to give a definite answer to the question put down by both Deputies representing west Cork and addressed to the Minister for Transport and Power today? We are not satisfied and that is the position in a nutshell.
I appreciate that the Deputy is not satisfied. To satisfy him would be a feat. Obviously the Deputy was not listening to my reply. I indicated that Bord Fáilte did contribute £38,000 last year towards resort development in west Cork. I appreciate that resorts in west Cork and other places at all stages feel they could use more money.
Would the Minister say if this is invisible money? It cannot be seen and the work it has done cannot be seen.
This work was carried out at Ballydehob, Traghuima, Glengarriff and Baltimore and if the Deputy cares to visit any of those four areas he should be able to see the work done.
The Minister knows west Cork but is he aware that it has a coastline of between 200 and 300 miles which include some of the finest resorts in the country? So good are they that the Taoiseach has a very soft spot for the area and mainly confines his holidays to that part of the country. In view of the special claims this area has on public funds, surely it is not justifiable for Bord Fáilte to tell the council that the Government have cut back on funds for tourist development? That is what Bord Fáilte have told us. I do not know where the £121,000 was expended. Possibly, most of it was given to a few hoteliers and that is how the figure is accounted for. In any case, we hope something will happen. If not we shall be back again next month.
It is unfortunate that the amount of money spent in west Cork is not appreciated by some of the public representatives.
Has the Minister some information that the Taoiseach will not be spending his holidays there?