Jim Higgins
Question:20 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the amount of EC grants which were made available by the EC but which were not utilised and subsequently surrendered to the EC.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Grants.
I understand that the Deputy is anxious to obtain information in relation to EC grants administered by my Department for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 which were not utilised and subsequently returned to the EC. There was none.
My information is that for the years in question there was surrendered back to the Department in each year a certain amount of money. For example in the year 1987 for tourism and transport a total of £5,619,362 was surrendered and for 1988 £7,140,975 was surrendered. Is the Minister giving a categorical assurance to the House that these figures are not valid?
I am doing no such thing. The question the Deputy put down to me says "subsequently surrendered to the EC", and my reply stands. No funds were subsequently surrendered to the EC.
Is the Minister saying, therefore, that in view of the available money from the EC in relation to transport and tourism there was at no stage surrendered during the years in question any unutilised funds or assets which were available from the EC?
For the years the Deputy asked me about I have made it clear there were no funds surrendered to the EC.