Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 5

Written Answers. - Funding for Accommodation.

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

108 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether it is his policy to encourage new bed night accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to the many areas in the country in which there is a shortage of such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13962/96]

James Leonard

Question:

109 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no available funding for the remainder of 1996 from any of the funding agencies for guest houses, self-catering or bed and breakfast; and if he proposes to make funding available from the Operational Programme for Tourism in this regard. [13690/96]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.

The Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 does not provide aid for guest houses, self-catering or bed and breakfasts. This is due to the readiness of the market to respond to visitor growth without grant assistance. The programme recognises, however, that there are a number of market segments where the quality of existing accommodation is deficient and includes a provision to assist, on a selective basis, investment in certain areas. These are: accommodation-related conference and leisure facilities, a limited scheme of accommodation improvements to existing small and medium sized hotels with a current capacity of up to 100 bed-rooms and graded up to and including three star, limited grant aid for certain specialist accommodation needs such as caravan and camping park facilities, upgrading and improvement of existing buildings for hostel or other specialist accommodation and associated facilities on branded walking routes, provision of new and improved accommodation at approved outdoor pursuits centres in remote areas currently without appropriate accommodation, improvement of existing accommodation at approved residential equestrian centres, horse-drawn caravan and motor-home investments, the additional cost of providing, in existing hotels, suitable access-friendly accommodation for people with disabilities, and improved access for people with disabilities at hotels and major visitor centres.

The funds provided under the programme for tourism development projects are now considerably over-subscribed and, unfortunately, those available for specialist accommodation related developments are fully committed. The possibility of allocating additional resources to this area is being considered in the light of the upcoming mid-term evaluation of the programme.