Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire as ucht teacht isteach agus éisteacht len a bhfuil le rá agam.
In the 1995 budget, the Minister for Finance announced a new scheme of tax relief for traditional seaside resorts. A pilot scheme came into effect in July 1995 for a period of three years and the scheme operates in 15 seaside towns. Only one town in County Galway, Salthill, was designated. It was a glaring omission not to include Clifden in the scheme.
Clifden town was founded in 1820. It now possesses several large hotels, a wide range of shops, galleries and restaurants and a new 100 house holiday village. A beach and yachting pier have also been developed outside the town. Clifden is often called the capital of Connemara and provides regional services, such as the fire services, Telecom Éireann and the ESB. There is also a library, courthouse, hospital and community college for second level education in the town. Because of its age the of the town is in need of urgent regeneration. Its active chamber of commerce has been doing all in its power to stimulate development in the town, but an incentive scheme, such as the tourist resort scheme, is necessary to provide the necessary kick start to ensure major regeneration of the core of Clifden town takes place.
As the main centre in west Connemara, Clifden is the main population centre along the entire coastline of Connemara and south Mayo between Galway city and Westport, a distance of 150 miles. The coastline from Donegal to Westport, a distance of only 300 miles, has four designated resorts. Clare and north Kerry have three designated resorts, Lahinch, Kilkee and Ballybunion. Cork and Waterford have three designated resorts along a coastline of 50 miles. There is an obvious gap to be filled in Connemara which has the largest land area of scenic landscape in any country.
I have always found it difficult to understand why the Government passed over Clifden when designating towns for the scheme. I call on the Minister to redress this omission and include Clifden in the scheme. Its inclusion would facilitate the necessary investment in tourism related products and would have a major economic impact not only for the town of Clifden but on the entire Connemara area. In view of the major effort being made by the people of the town, I ask the Minister not to put this proposal on the long finger or to give the excuse that the scheme will be reviewed after three years. I compliment Galway County Council for making a submission this year in support of such designation on its thorough work in promoting the case of Clifden. Ba mhaith liom arís mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire as ucht éisteacht leis an méid a bhí le rá agam agus beidh mé ag súil le dea-scéala uaidh. Muna mbeidh sé le fáil inniu beidh mé ag súil leis sa Cháinaisnéis — agus níl mé ag caint faoin dara Cáinaisnéis an bhliain seo chugainn ach faoin chéad cheann.
