Vol. 492 No. 1
227 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will name the selection committee for the pilot initiative on tourism and the environment set up by him in February or March 1998; and the functions of this initiative. [13605/98]
The Pilot Initiative on Tourism and the Environment, which Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies and I first announced towards the end of last year, arose from the mid-term review of the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99. European Regional Development Fund grant assistance of 3 MECU — approximately IR£2.4 million is being made available up to the end of 1999, with a total expected investment of 4.2 MECU — approximately IR£5.25 million to support projects of a pilot demonstration nature, which will contribute to knowledge and understanding of best practice in terms of sustainable tourism and the environment. The overall emphasis is on tourism-led projects which will achieve immediate results. Proposed projects should seek to enhance the visitor experience while at the same time protecting and benefiting the local environment.
Applications were invited by advertisements in the national press on 2 and 3 April 1998. The closing date for submission of applications to Bord Fáilte or Shannon Development, which is administering the scheme on my behalf, is 12 June 1998.
The selection process will be carried out by a committee comprising: Joe Timbs, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Chairman); Brendan Leahy, Irish Tourist Industry Confederation; Professor Frank Convery, An Taisce; John Power, Irish Hotels Federation; Larry Stapleton, Environmental Protection Agency; Noel Kavanagh, Bord Fáilte Éireann; Brendan Lynch, Shannon Development; Peadar O'Reilly, Department of the Environment and Local Government; Dave Fadden, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Maurice O'Connor, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Gary Masterson, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Secretary).
