Michael Ring
Question:153 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when he will announce the national tourism plan; and if assistance will be given to projects in the Border, midland and west region in particular. [21567/01]
Written Answers. - National Tourism Plan.
Michael Ring
Question:154 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the funding which is available to assist those in the tourism industry; and if funding under the national tourism plan can be expedited to come into effect in 2001, rather than the 2002 tourist season. [21568/01]
Michael Ring
Question:155 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the funding which will be available under the tourism national plan; and the qualifying criteria for the scheme. [21569/01]
I propose to take Questions
Nos. 153 to 155, inclusive, together.
The anticipated announcement is not in terms of a national tourism plan but rather the proposed tourism product investment scheme, which is to be funded under the local enterprise development priority of both the BMW and S&E regional operational programmes. As I explained previously to the Deputy in my letter of 28 August 2001, the scheme has not been launched as yet because for the first time such a scheme has had to be individually notified to the Competition Directorate of the European Commission, under state aids rules for regional aid.
Negotiations between my Department and the Commission's Competition Directorate are ongoing and have proved unexpectedly difficult. As soon as clearance is secured, I will formally launch the scheme and make every effort to ensure its efficient implementation. By way of factual information, I am arranging for the Deputy to be sent an extract from the BMW operational programme covering the programme complement for tourism sub-measures 1 to 3. In line with the eligibility rules for Structural Funds and, in particular, the guidelines on regional aid, eligible expenditure cannot pre-date state aids approval and detailed appraisal of proposed projects.