asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will make the special tourist grants available to the western seaboard areas payable to all other areas promoting tourism.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Tourist Grants.
37.
The supplementary holiday accommodation grant scheme is the only scheme of incentives administered by Bord Fáilte which is confined to western areas. While there is no such restriction in the case of any other of the board's schemes of assistance, there is provision in the hotel development scheme for the paying of higher maximum grants for projects in the west but since mid-1969 Bord Fáilte have not been taking on new grant commitments in relation to hotels. The special assistance provided under these two schemes for development in western areas is in furtherance of Government policy for western development and no change is contemplated.
Bord Fáilte are at present carrying out a comprehensive study of holiday accommodation needs throughout the country for the period up to 1985 and all the accommodation incentive schemes will be reviewed as part of it.
Could the Minister say why it is confined to the western areas having regard to the fact that tourism is just as important in every other part of the country from the point of view of the revenue to the nation? Is there any particular reason why he should not extend the scheme to the entire country?
The general scheme does extend to the whole country. I am talking about supplementary holiday accommodation grants ranging up to £1,000. These are confined to the undeveloped parts of the country, not just to the western-north-western and south-western.
Why confine it to the west?
Not the west, the 12 underdeveloped areas.
It is along the west coast.