asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will make funds available to the Swansea-Cork Ferry Company to enable them to run a ferry in 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Swansea-Cork Ferry Service.
44.
It will not be possible to make any further Exchequer funds available to Swansea-Cork Ferries Limited.
The previous Government decided in 1986 to make available to the promoters of the Cork-Swansea service a grant of £500,000 to assist the start-up of the service. The promoters were advised at that time that no further Exchequer moneys would be made available for the service.
Payment of the grant had commenced before the present Government took office. I was happy to be able to honour the commitment given, and to have my Department disburse the remainder of the £500,000 to the promoters earlier this year.
I should also make it clear that in correspondence with Swansea-Cork Ferries Limited over recent months, I confirmed that the funds provided in 1987 represented a once-off grant and that there was no possibility of further Exchequer assistance for the service.