Vol. 478 No. 7
201 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether a review body is due to examine the reallocation of European funding for tourist-related projects in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12241/97]
The Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 is the primary mechanism for grant aiding tourism-related projects in this country. As part of the overall mid-term review of the Community Support Framework and in common with other operational programmes, the mid-term review of the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99 is under way.
The review process of the tourism operational programme began last year with the drawing up of detailed terms of reference for a mid-term evaluation, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the European Commission, and the appointment by the national monitoring committee of a mid-term evaluator. The mid-term evalutor's report was finalised recently and, as part of the next phase in the review process, was considered at a specially convened meeting of the national monitoring committee of the tourism operational programme on 28 February 1997, which was chaired by my Department. This meeting allowed the various interests represented on the national monitoring committee to discuss the report in detail with the evaluator and to put forward initial views. These initial views will feed into the overall CSF mid-term review process and will allow the Government and the European Commission to review the general thrust and direction of CSF programmes, to decide on any strategic changes required and to determine any inter programme reallocations which might be required in the first instance, prior to considering changes within individual programmes. The CSF review is due to be completed later this year. Any changes arising from this review process which result in amendments to the operational programme for tourism will, of course, be published.
