Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 1963

Vol. 205 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hotel Grants.

12.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Transport and Power the steps which Bord Fáilte can take to enforce the condition that hotels in receipt of grant assistance must be maintained as registered hotels for at least five years after the grant payment; whether, apart from compelling owners to register such hotels, the Bord can compel them to operate such hotels; and if he will state the number of hotels, if any, which have ceased to be registered or operated as hotels within five years of receiving grant assistance, and the amount of grants refunded to the Bord because of a breach of the conditions governing grants.

13.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state in respect of the Old Conna Hill Hotel, Bray, the dates upon which (a) it was first registered as a hotel and (b) it ceased to be registered as such; and whether any grants were paid by Bord Fáilte.

Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. Childers)

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

The owner of every hotel in receipt of a cash grant from Bord Fáilte Éireann is required to enter into a formal agreement undertaking to keep the premises registered as a hotel and to use the premises for the purposes of the hotel business only and for the amenities appropriate to a hotel for a minimum period of five years from the date of payment of the grant or, if the grant is payable by instalments, from the date of payment of the last of such instalments. The agreement requires that on breach of such conditions the full amount of the grant becomes payable and recoverable from the owner.

Details of the operation and enforcement of these conditions are matters of day-to-day administration which fall within the sole responsibility of the Board.

As I indicated in reply to a question by the Deputy on 29th October, 1963, I cannot reveal details of the business of individual hotels.