Vol. 537 No. 5
511 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the grants which are available to support a person who wishes to provide self-catering accommodation in an historical area, which would necessitate rebuilding and refurbishment works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16871/01]
Bord Fáilte was the implementing body for tourism product development under the Tourism Operational Programme, 1994-99, with decisions on grant approval being made by an independent product management board. A similar arrangement will be in place, for the period of the current national development plan, under which I was able to obtain a commitment of £100 million – to be co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund – for tourism product development.
The new tourism product investment scheme will be administered via the tourism measures of the Regional Operational Programmes. The overall objective of the scheme is to develop the tourism product in a sustainable way which widens the spatial spread of tourism, diverts pressure from highly developed areas and increases the under-performing regions' share of overseas tourism revenue. Funding for tourist accommodation developments is not a priority under the scheme.
Detailed guidelines, for project promoters, on the new tourism product investment scheme have been drafted by Bord Fáilte, in consultation with my Department. Meanwhile the scheme is still being examined under the State aids rules by DG Competition of the European Commission, to whom the scheme has been formally notified as required by the relevant legislation.
