Vol. 488 No. 5
36 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the consultations, if any, she has had with the Department of Finance regarding the inclusion of inland waterways in the rural designation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6528/98]
The current Finance Bill provides for the introduction of a rural renewal scheme on a pilot basis to reinvigorate certain parts of rural Ireland. As the Minister for Finance stated in his budget speech, it is impossible to designate all of rural Ireland and he indicated that he would look carefully at the feasibility of a pilot initiative which would apply in the Upper Shannon region. The area proposed for designation comprises all of Counties Leitrim and Longford, north County Roscommon, the western part of County Cavan and a large part of County Sligo. I am delighted that substantial parts of the counties adjoining the Upper Shannon area are proposed to be designated as a qualifying area in the Bill as such designation will undoubtedly lead to enhancement of those areas and facilitate the further development of tourism associated with the River Shannon.
I have had no consultations with the Minister for Finance regarding the extension of the qualifying areas to all areas adjoining inland waterways.
