Vol. 468 No. 4
772 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the assistance, if any, that can be given to the provision of new accommodation in areas of great need taking on board information (details supplied) furnished by the IFI and the County Enterprise Board in County Donegal in relation to the need for help and the restraints of national policy. [15565/96]
As I have indicated in response to previous similar Dáil questions, the provision of tourist accommodation is a matter for the tourism industry and depends primarily on individual operators commercial judgment as to the manner in which to respond to levels of demand. The industry has responded well to market forces and there has been a steady expansion in tourism accommodation, especially in recent years. All registered and approved tourism accommodation has been deemed eligible for low interest loans under the access to finance scheme launched last September by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. A sum of £52 million of this £208 million fund has been specially earmarked for tourism projects throughout the country, virtually all of which is now committed to projects. A similar scheme especially for the Border counties, was recently introduced under the "Peace and Reconciliation Fund". Investment in registered or approved tourist accommodation in the 15 resort areas, including Bundoran, County Donegal, designated under the pilot tax relief scheme for certain resort areas may also qualify for generous tax relief under the scheme.
The Operational Programme for Tourism provides assistance for accommodation in very specific circumstances — for specialist accommodation at recognised outdoor pursuit centres, branded walking routes and at approved residential equestrian centres. I understand that the agriculture rural development and forestry operational programme and the Leader programme, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and the local urban and rural development operational programme under which, inter alia, the Department of Enterprise and Employment's county enterprise partnership boards operate, also offer limited assistance for accommodation.
