Seamus Kirk
Question:16 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will give a breakdown of all funding from European Union sources for tourism projects in Ireland in 1995. [8384/95]
Written Answers. - EU Tourism Funding.
The main funding vehicle for tourism projects in 1995 is the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999. The amount of EU aid allocated for this year is £58.4 million which is broken down as follows:
|
£m |
|
|
Natural/Cultural Tourism |
18.1 |
|
Product Development |
13.5 |
|
Marketing |
13.1 |
|
Training |
13.0 |
|
Technical Assistance |
0.7 |
|
Total |
58.4 |
There are a variety of other programmes which impact on tourism development, either directly or indirectly, and which are the responsibility of other Ministers. Examples are the operational programmes for agriculture, rural development and forestry, local urban and rural development and transport as well as Community initiatives such as the recently agreed Leader II. However, I am not aware that any specific tourism allocations for 1995 have been specified in these programmes.
Charlie McCreevy
Question:17 Mr. McCreevy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the amount of EU funding which will be made available to the private sector apart from that through the regional tourism organisations and directly-owned regional tourism organisation companies under the Operational Programme for Tourism and Marketing Budgeting in view of the fact that his Department is directly responsible to the Commission. [10780/95]
Charlie McCreevy
Question:36 Mr. McCreevy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the amount of EU funding which will be made available to the private sector apart from that through the regional tourism organisations and directly-owned regional tourism organisation companies under the Operational Programme for Tourism and Product Development Fund in view of the fact that his Department is directly responsible for this programme to the Commission. [10781/95]
Seamus Brennan
Question:47 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the amount of EU funding which will be made available to the private sector apart from that through the regional tourism boards and directly owned regional tourism board companies under the Operational Programme for Tourism and Cultural Tourism in view of the fact that his Department is directly responsible for this programme to the Commission. [10779/95]
David Andrews
Question:193 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the amount of EU funding which will be available to the private sector apart from the regional tourism organisation's and directly owned regional tourism organisation companies under the Operational Programme for Tourism-product development fund, as his Department is directly responsible for this programme to the Commission. [11028/95]
David Andrews
Question:194 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the amount of EU funding which will be available to the private sector apart from the regional tourism organisations and directly owned regional tourism organisation companies under the Operational Programme for Tourism-marketing budgeting, as his Department is directly responsible for this programme to the Commission. [11029/95]
David Andrews
Question:195 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the amount of EU funding which will be available to the private sector apart from the regional tourism organisations and directly owned regional tourism organisation companies under the Operational Programme for Tourism-cultural tourism, as his Department is directly responsible for this programme to the Commission. [11030/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 36, 47, 193, 194 and 195 together.
The Operational Programme for Tourism. 1994-1999 provides for total investment of £652 million over the six-year period and it is projected that £369 million of this amount will be provided by the European Union.
The primary sources of funding to the private sector are the product development sub-programme and the marketing sub-programme. The EU contribution to these programmes amounts to £190 million. Whereas the bulk of funding from these sub-programmes will apply to private sector projects, it is simply not possible at this stage to predict precisely what the breakdown will be as between private and public sector projects. This will be determined by the mix and quality of the project proposals received and the decisions on them taken by the independent management boards within the implementing agencies in the light of the parameters set by the Operational Programme.