Jack Wall
Question:96 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of marinas on the coast of Ireland which have received State aid in regard to their construction or initiation. [4595/02]
Written Answers. - Marina Development.
Jack Wall
Question:97 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the grants which are available to persons or groups seeking to initiate a boating marina in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4596/02]
Jack Wall
Question:98 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of marinas which have received lottery funding or State aid from his Department in areas (details supplied), during their construction or initiation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4597/02]
Jack Wall
Question:99 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the grants which are available from his Department or through lottery funding for persons or groups seeking to provide a marina in their areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4598/02]
Dan Neville
Question:109 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide funding for dredging to Foynes Yacht Club, County Limerick. [4545/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 to 99, inclusive, and 109 together.
Since 1997, my Department has allocated a total of €9.51 million in Exchequer funding towards the construction of marinas around the coast of Ireland. Of this total, €3.81 million was allocated in June 1997 to the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company towards the cost of the development of a marina and recreational facilities in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. Further funding of €5.7 million was allocated in the December 2000 budget for four flagship marina and integrated marine leisure/access infrastructure projects, namely a new marina at Caherciveen, County Kerry, a new integrated marine leisure and access infrastructure facility at Kenmare, County Kerry, a new marina at Roundstone, County Galway and a new marina at Rosses Point, County Sligo.
In addition to the above funding, my Department allocated just under €51,000 in 2001 towards the costs of a feasibility study undertaken by Galway County Council, in conjunction with the Galway Bay Sailing Club, for a marine leisure development at Rinville, County Galway. No funding has been provided by my Department for the construction of marinas on inland waters nor does my Department have any responsibility for the allocation of lottery funds.
I recently formally launched the marine tourism sub-measure which will be implemented by my Department as part of the two regional operational programmes of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Under this grant scheme, €25.4 million has been allocated to marine tourism, and targeted particularly at improving marine access infrastructure such as marinas, berths and slipways. Funding will also be available under the scheme for feasibility studies. My Department has already announced the first call for applications and following the launch, formal application forms and guidelines are now being made available by my Department to all parties, including the Foynes Yacht Club, which has expressed an interest in the scheme. Once formal applications are received from the promoters of proposed projects, they will be assessed in accordance with the procedures laid down under the scheme.