asked the Minister for Transport and Power what controls or restrictions apply in respect of the subsequent sale of any hotel or establishment to which Bord Fáilte have given a grant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord Fáilte Hotels Loans and Grants.
39.
I am informed by Bord Fáilte that the owner of an hotel who received grant assistance is required to enter into a formal agreement with the board to keep the premises registered for a minimum period of ten years from the date of payment of the grant. If the premises are sold within the ten-year period and do not continue in registration, the grant is repayable.
The same conditions also apply to other categories of registered accommodation but the obligatory registration period in those cases is five years.
The position in relation to supplementary accommodation in western counties is that grant recipients are required to keep the premises listed as available for the reception of guests for a period of three years.
40.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what body or bodies provide or help towards the provision of interest free or low interest loans to Irish hotels.
41.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether Bord Fáile provide or assist in the provision of interest free or low interest loans for hotels.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together.
Under the Tourist Traffic Acts, Bord Fáilte operate an interest grant scheme related to loans raised for approved tourist development projects, including accommodation. Under the scheme, which is financed by funds from my Department's Vote, the board pay grants for up to periods of five years towards interest charges payable on borrowed moneys. The purpose of the scheme is to help developers to meet their commitments in the initial years of operation, when the earning capacity of a project is being developed. No other assistance by way of interest free or low interest loans is available.
42.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state in respect of accommodation grant payments made by Bord Fáilte (a) the names of the hotels which have been paid grants exceeding £25,000 and the amount paid in each case; and (b) the names of hotels in respect of which grants exceeding £25,000 have been approved, and the amount of the grant approved in each case.
I would refer the Deputy to the Bord Fáilte annual report for 1970-71, in which the board introduced a new section containing the names and addresses of recipients of grants for the development of hotel and other registered tourist accommodation and the amount of grant paid in that year in each case. The report was presented to the House and copies were circulated to Deputies. Similar information will be included in future reports.