asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the criteria by which the Government allocate money for ferry services between this country and abroad; having indicated that he would not subvent the Swansea-Cork ferry in 1988, the factors which changed his mind; if applications from Irish Ferries and Sea Link will receive similar aid; and his views of the policy of aiding one private sector company and not others which are in direct competition.
Written Answers. - Ferry Services Grant-Aid.
70.
On 18 December last, Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd. applied for an Exchequer grant of £1.8 million towards the cost of operating the Cork-Swansea ferry service.
On 16 February 1988, the Government decided that £300,000 should be made available to the company from the budget allocation of £4 million for a package of special measures for tourism in 1988. The purpose of this grant was to assist Swansea Cork Ferries Ltd. in marketing and promoting the company's services to Cork in the interests of increasing the number of foreign tourists visiting the south-west region.
The grant was an exceptional one and was facilitated by the availability of the special budget allocation for tourist development purposes. It continues to be my policy that the Exchequer should not grant-aid the operations of private commercial ferry companies.