Vol. 380 No. 1
asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money made available for tourism related projects from the EC fund originally designated for the gas pipeline from Dublin to Belfast; the projects which will be undertaken with this money and their locations; if he will include allocations for county roads as important tourist related projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38.
asked the Minister for Finance the counties which qualify for benefit from the moneys which were received from the EC for tourist-related projects and which were originally designated for the gas pipeline from Dublin to Belfast.
Approximately £8 million in ERDF aid is earmarked for tourism under the programme for the Border areas of Ireland. The counties concerned are: Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.
The submissions received from local authorities in connection with this programme greatly exceeded what could be funded with the amount available. The local authorities concerned were therefore invited to identify priority projects. The revised submissions which have been received are now being examined with a view to drawing together a coherent set of projects which enhances the tourism potential of the area as a whole. This will include both directly tourism-related amenities and county roads which provide access for tourists.
This process has, I would accept, been somewhat time-consuming. However, it is providing useful experience for the more widespread application of the programme approach to the use of ERDF which is envisaged in the current reform of the European Community's Structural Funds.
