Question:
359 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the grant schemes available for the development of private golf courses over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24720/98]
Written Answers - Golf Courses Development.
Assistance for the development of private golf courses over the past ten years has been essentially linked to strategy for tourism product development. The first Operational Programme for Tourism, which covered the 1989-93 period provided funding for golf courses which complied with certain tourism development criteria. The current operational programme, which concludes at the end of 1999, also makes limited provision for the allocation of grants to golf courses. Measure 4 of the product development sub-programme notes that considerable capacity now exists to faciliate increases in overseas golf visitors, and so only provides for a small amount of funds to be made available, on an exceptional basis, to assist the development of a limited number of new championship courses in remote areas where they could become the catalyst to encourage tourism development. The provision or improvement of visitor and learner facilities in Bord Fáilte-branded gold courses, which have not received assistance for such improvements under the previous operational programme, have also been eligible for consideration for funding under the current programme.
Funding has been available, on a broadly similar basis, under the INTERREG programmes, which apply to the Border areas only.