Written Answers. - Rural Cottage Programme.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:
49
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the proposals, if any, he has for a rural cottage programme similar to that operated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; and whether EU funding will be available in this regard.
[17175/97]
It has been policy, for some time, not to provide support for tourist accommodation projects, on the basis of the proven ability of the commercial accommodation sector to respond, without grant assistance to growth in visitor numbers.
This approach was incorporated into the Operational Programme for Tourism 1989-93 agreed with the European Commission and, by and large, carried forward into the current operational programme. However, the current programme does make an exception in the case of a number of specific market segments where the quality of existing accommodation was recognised to be deficient. Hence, it includes a provision to assist, on a selective basis, investment in such areas as 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 bedrooms 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.
In keeping with the overall strategy in the programme, such support is aimed primarily at the enhancement of existing investment rather than supporting new development and all accommodation supported must be registered or approved, as appropriate. Already, all funds in this regard under the programme are fully committed.
Currently, the mid-term review of the tourism operational programme is being completed, as part of the overall mid-term review of the Community Support Framework for Ireland and outstanding issues will be dealt with at the Tourism Monitoring Committee meeting scheduled for November, including the matters of possible financial transfers within the programme, re-organisation of priorities and selection criteria.
Other EU-funded programmes which provide support for smaller tourism initiatives, including accommodation, are the Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry and the Leader II Programme administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Local, Urban and Rural Development Operational Programme under which,inter alia, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's County Enterprise Boards operate. In the Border counties, limited assistance is also available under the IFI and INTERREG Programmes and the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
Additionally, all registered and approved tourism accommodation was eligible for low interest loans under the Access to Finance Scheme launched in September 1995 under the Small Business Operational Programme. Some £52 million of this £208 million fund was specially earmarked for tourism projects throughout the country but the target was actually exceeded with the allocation of over £56 million, 27 per cent of the fund, to tourism. A similar scheme especially for the Border counties was introduced under the Peace and Reconciliation Fund and all of it has now been committed.
Furthermore, investment in registered or approved tourist accommodation in any of the resort areas designated under the pilot tax relief scheme for certain resort areas may also qualify for generous tax reliefs under the scheme. It can be seen, therefore, that there is a very wide range of supports available for those parts of the accommodation sector which are perceived to be in need of some assistance. In overall terms, the national accommodation stock is sufficient to meet demand. At present, there are over 3,000 self-catering units available with a good geographical spread and, generally speaking, the supply situation is already regarded as satisfactory.
