Vol. 557 No. 5
53 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the tourism product development scheme; when he expects to make an announcement on the successful cluster applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22501/02]
As provided for within the tourism measure of the local enterprise priority of the two regional operational programmes, Bord Fáilte Éireann is the implementing body for a scheme of EU co-funded capital grants for certain tourism projects. Bord Fáilte will administer the funding under the terms of the Tourism Product Development Scheme 2002-2006. Decision-making in relation to grant allocations under the scheme rests with the two independent product management boards, one for each region.
Grant approvals will be announced following final decisions on projects being taken by the management boards.
Numerous individual and cluster applications have been made under the scheme over the past 12 months. Will the Minister explain the delay in the assessment of the various proposals? When will decisions be made, particularly on cluster applications? A cluster proposal was submitted for north Kerry, which Shannon Development recommended as one of the most innovative in Ireland. When will a decision be made on that?
Once the applications were received it was a function of the regional tourism authorities and Shannon Development in its area to screen them. They were then forwarded to Bord Fáilte and examined. Product management boards were set up in the two regions to examine the applications. They are independent in the exercise of their function and the Department has no involvement in the assessments. Applications were invited under three different categories – the development of attractions, special interest pursuits and tourism and environment management.
Detailed proposals and plans have been requested for 72 special interest projects or 53% of those presented. We have not yet progressed to the stage where detailed plans and specifications are sought in respect of the other two categories but the product management boards are progressing in terms of these categories. The reason for the delay is screening had to take place, initially followed by the assessments, and then details had to be sought from 72 applicants under the special interest category. The same procedures will be followed with the other two categories.
I remind Members that supplementary questions and replies are limited to one minute each.
Who will make the decisions on the applications? Will it be the Minister or the product management board? Will the Minister accept the board's recommendations regarding successful applicants?
The Department and the Minister are not involved. The decisions will be the recommendations of the product management boards.
