andDr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance if the new Border Fund which he announced recently will be in addition to the funds designated for Border areas under the quota section of the Regional Fund.
428.
Written Answers . - Border Fund .
427.
Mr. Leonard
andDr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the developments to-date on the provision of a special Border Fund under the Regional Fund of the EEC; and when the new non-quota fund which he announced recently will be implemented.
429.
Mr. Leonard, Mr. Conaghan
andDr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the breakdown, in respect of the five Border counties, of the moneys which will be allocated through the quota and non-quota sections of the Regional Fund.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos, 427, 428, and 429 together.
The regulation which has enabled me to forward to the Commission a programme for the development of the Border counties was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 7 October last. The finances for this programme will be made available from a special fund which will be co-financed by the Exchequer and the non-quota section of the Regional Fund. We propose to allocate IR£20.5 million to the fund over the five year period of the programme. I would like to stress that this fund represents expenditure over and above normal expenditure from the quota section of the Regional Fund which is used on a country-wide basis to boost the Public Capital Programme. I should also like to emphasise that Border counties will continue to benefit as heretofore from the additional resources which are derived from the quota section.
The measures proposed are designed to improve the tourism potential of the Border counties and to encourage the development and expansion of craft industries. A tentative allocation of the moneys of the Special Fund has been made as follows—
IR£3.6 million for grants for development of tourist accommodation.
IR£1.0 million for the promotion of tourism in the Border counties.
IR£5.3 million for the development of tourist related amenities.
IR£5.1 million for the improvement of telecommunication services and access to tourist areas that is improvement of minor roads.
IR£1.6 million for the development of an airport in Donegal.
IR£0.6 million aids to transport facilities within the area.
IR£3.3 million for grants and marketing aid for craft industries.
I must emphasise that these allocations are not definitive. There is room for flexibility in the allocation of funds for the different measures. Over the five years a pragmatic approach will be adopted in the allocation of funds. This is a new venture and we will learn as the programme progresses the measures which are best succeeding in attaining the objective of the programme which is the improvement of the economic and social situation of the Border areas.