asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the average delay in paying grants to hotel companies in respect of hotel expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hotel Grants.
24.
Ordinarily grants are paid by Bord Fáilte within a short period from the completion and certification of the particular project. Up to last year, the amount approved for grant payments each year proved sufficient for the purpose and there was no delay in the payment of grants, but in 1969-1970 there was a rapid acceleration in the building up of commitments with the result that the demand on the board for grant payments exceeded the sum of £1 million which had been voted for the purpose.
In order to deal with the situation which arose last year, I secured Dáil approval in December for a supplementary estimate of £500,000 bringing the total provision for 1969-1970 to £1.5 million. This additional sum was used by Bord Fáilte to ease the most pressing cases but some commitments had to be carried forward to the current year. The provision to be voted this year will again be £1.5 million. The rate at which commitments fall due depends on the initiative of private enterprise but the board have informed me that they have estimated that commitments arising in the current year may exceed the provision in the Vote. Since the rate of growth of accommoation outstripped the accommodation targets and the level of funds which the Government can provide for this purpose, Bord Fáilte have been endeavouring to draw up priorities in relation to the payment of accommodation grants so as to spread available funds as widely and as fairly as possible. Of necessity, there are delays in the payment of grants.
Could the Minister give any indication of the period of the delay?
About nine months at the moment.