Vol. 456 No. 5
50 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, he has had with Coillte Éireann regarding the development of forest parks under its control in view of the potential value of such amenities to tourists and locals. [11844/95]
The development of forest parks is primarily a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry and Coillte Teoranta which operates under his auspices. However, because of the tourism potential offered by certain forests and woodlands, my Department has had discussions in the past with Coillte Teoranta on the potential for tourism development in Ireland's forest parks. Discussions focussed on how development of this potential might be assisted under the EU co-funded operational programme for tourism 1994-99 and other EU funded programmes with a tourism dimension. My Department confirmed at that stage that development of its parks for tourism purposes could be considered for assistance within the context of such Programmes.
It would be a matter for Coillte Teoranta to develop specific proposals and submit applications for assistance, while it would be a matter for the relevant implementing agencies to determine what grant assistance, if any, should be made available for any particular project or projects.
