Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 1

Written Answers. - Tourist Accommodation.

Seamus Kirk

Question:

172 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will consider establishing a grant scheme in view of the need for additional tourist bedroom accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23780/99]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

It has been policy of my Department, for some time, not to provide direct financial 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, 1989-1993, agreed with the European Commission and, by and large, carried forward into the current operational programme. The current programme did make an exception in the case of a number of specific market segments by providing for limited grant aid for certain specialist accommodation where the quality of existing accommodation was recognised to be deficient.

In recent years, investment in registered or approved tourist accommodation in any of the resort areas designated under the pilot tax relief scheme for certain resort areas would have qualified for generous tax reliefs under that scheme. In addition, the 1998 budget provided for a special scheme of capital allowances for hotels of at least three star standard in respect of hotels which are located in counties Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan and Roscommon and those parts of counties Donegal, Mayo and Sligo which are not designated areas under the pilot tax relief scheme for certain resort areas.

In view of the significant growth in tourism accommodation in recent years, there are no proposals at present to introduce any further new schemes of assistance for the provision of additional tourist accommodation.