Vol. 542 No. 2
421 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if grant aid is available from bodies such as Údarás na Gaeltachta that deal with Gaeltacht areas to facilitate the purchase of new vehicles for the haulage business; and if so, if such grants have ever been paid. [23857/01]
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that it does not operate any such grant aid scheme. Historically, however, an tÚdarás did operate a scheme to facilitate the purchase of transport vehicles for companies, as a means of business development. No such schemes are now in existence.
European Commission regulations, specifically the Commission's regional aid guidelines – RAGS – and its de minimis rule, now disallow grant aid as outlined in the Deputy's question. For these reasons, Údarás na Gaeltachta cannot give assistance to businesses as outlined in the question.
