Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 4

Written Answers. - Agri-Tourism Scheme.

Phil Hogan

Question:

31 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on the vital role of agri-tourism in the overall tourist regime; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to deliver the economic benefits of such tourist ventures to rural area.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

101 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers in County Kerry who qualified for grant aid under the agri-tourism grant scheme.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

103 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers in County Kerry who qualified for grant aid under the agri-tourism grant scheme.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

104 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who benefited from the agri-tourism scheme from 1989 to 1993.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

105 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will ensure that a preferential grants scheme is available to farmers under the 1994 to 1999 agri-tourism scheme in order to make the scheme more accessible for the small farming population.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

106 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the role that Teagasc plays in tourism development; and if he envisages a greater role for this body in tourism development in the future.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 101 and 103 to 106, inclusive, together.

The agri-tourism scheme, which forms part of the EC supported Operational Programme for Rural Development under the recent round of the Structural Funds, was launched by my Department in March 1991.

Projects may be submitted under the scheme by individual farmers or groups consisting of farmers and rural dwellers. In the case of individual farmers all the investment must be on-farm, while in the case of groups at least 50 per cent of the investment must be on-farm. In all cases, at least half of the investment must be in leisure facilities. An investment ceiling of £50,000 per applicant or £250,000 for a group of five or more applies to each project.

To date, 210 projects — 134 individual and 76 groups — have been approved for investment under the scheme. A total of about 350 farmers, 33 of whom are in Kerry, are directly participating in the scheme. However, many more farmers are in receipt of benefits flowing from grant aid to marketing projects under the scheme.

Teagasc plays an important role in the promotion of rural tourism through its 23 socio-economic advisors. Teagasc is involved in the provision of training programmes for rural communities, the development of agri-tourism on a community basis and the provision of an advisory service to tourism related projects. Teagasc also co-operates with Bord Fáilte and SFADCo, in the promotion of agri-tourism. I envisage a continuing substantial involvement by Teagasc in carrying out their statutory functions in so far as they relate to tourism development.

The agri-tourism scheme is an important element in the Government's rural development policy. The interest in the measure is very evident in the current round of the Structural Funds, both under the Operational Programme for Rural Development and the Leader programme. As a result some additional funding was provided for the current scheme and I am seeking increased funding for the new agri-tourism scheme in the 1994-99 period.