Vol. 482 No. 1
23 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans, if any, he has for the renewed commitment to the INTERREG Tourism Sub-Programme in view of the ongoing peace initiative and the consequent upsurge in interest in tourism within the Border regions. [17234/97]
52 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the INTEREG programme is only half way through and is due to run on for two years more in spite of the fact that no funds are available; and the plans, if any, he has to replenish this fund in this regard. [17235/97]
66 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when additional funding will be allocated towards the tourism measure of INTERREG; and if he will review the criteria applicable for the tourism measure taking into account the economic environment existing in Border counties. [17236/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 52 and 66 together.
The Northern Ireland-Ireland INTERREG II Programme, 1994-99, was agreed between the two member states concerned and the European Commission. The programme is administered jointly by the Department of Finance in Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland.
Under the Tourism Measure of the Programme, an amount of funding remains to be formally allocated to tourism projects, although, as is usual in such circumstances the aggregate of applications on hand exceeds the amount available.
