Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 2

Written Answers. - Rural Development Programmes.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

33 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether there is an obligation on the Government to the Bantry area arising from the sale of the oil terminal at Whiddy Island and the fact that over half of the funds previously allocated under the £15 million Bantry package was subsequently cancelled; and if he will ensure that these moneys will be reinstated following the sale of the oil terminal. [18865/01]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

36 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the funds originally allocated for the Bantry package following the arrangements which included the transfer of the Whiddy Oil Terminal to a company (details supplied); the amount subsequently expended; the main areas of expenditure; and the amount of funding which was cancelled from the package and remains due thereunder. [18864/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 36 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the then Minister for Finance announced in his budget statement on 29 January 1986 that the Government had decided to allocate £15 million over a four-year period for development in the west Cork area with particular emphasis on Bantry as its development centre. This amount of £15 million was to be allocated between the following programmes:

Programme	Amount£
Industry	1,709,000
Mariculture	627,000
Tourism	760,000
Community and Recreational facilities	1,361,000
Health, Education and Housing facilities	1,003,000
Roads	5,940,000
Sanitary services	2,500,000
Piers at Bantry and Glengarriff	1,100,000

In July 1987, as part of the expenditure review process, it was decided to wind up the Bantry package, with existing contractual commitments being honoured.

I am having enquiries made with the relevant Departments, which had responsibility for this expenditure, regarding the amounts actually spent and I will communicate directly with the Deputy immediately this information comes to hand.

Any moneys arising from the completion of the current sale process will be remitted to the Exchequer in the normal way and the issue of reinstating any previous expenditure programmes does not arise.