asked the Minister for Transport and Power the number of applications for hotel extension and improvement grants approved from June, 1969 to date; the number of projects which have been carried out satisfactorily since June, 1969; the number of grants outstanding in respect of the period June, 1969 to April, 1971; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hotel Grants.
31.
I am informed by Bord Fáilte that two applications for grants in respect of extensions and improvements to existing hotels were approved by the board in the period from June, 1969 to April, 1971; 57 projects in this particular category were carried out satisfactorily during the period; and grants are outstanding in six cases, all of which were certified in 1971.
In regard to holiday accommodation grants in general, in 1969-70 there was a rapid acceleration in the building up of grant commitments with the result that the demands on Bord Fáilte exceeded the amount which could be made available by the Exchequer for this purpose. I secured Dáil approval for a supplementary estimate of £500,000 for holiday accommodation in December, 1969, bringing the total provision for 1969-70 to £1,500,000. This additional sum was used by Bord Fáilte to ease the most pressing cases but some commitments had to be carried forward.
With a view to clearing the backlog of grants as quickly as possible and having regard to commitments already in the pipeline, Bord Fáilte decided as a general rule not to enter into any new commitments as from July, 1969. While £1,500,000 was also provided for accomodation grants in 1970-71, there is still a residue of commitments to be met and the board is still not taking on any new commitments except in very exceptional cases.
In those cases which the board has been unable to meet due to lack of available funds could the Minister state whether the provision which the board had for paying a percentage of the interest incurred on the bridging loan which the particular builder had obtained is still in operation or has the board ceased to pay it?
As I understand the Deputy I think the scheme he is speaking of relates to a case in which the actual grant has been made and there is a form of subsidisation of interest for a certain number of years. In these cases the money has not been paid and the scheme does not apply to that kind of case.
The Minister's figures do not refer to any new hotels which have been built?
I am not sure how the Deputy would interpret the information I have given him but it could include new hotels.