asked the Minister for the Environment if he will sanction a loan of £250,000 which was requested by Mayo County Council, for development works at Keel, Achill, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Achill Development Works.
5.
As the Deputy may be aware, it was conveyed to Mayo County Council in November 1980 that there were no funds available to allow of borrowing being approved for this project.
I regret that, due to the limitations on capital availability and the needs for priority local authority programmes, it is not possible to allocate capital for projects of this kind at the present time. The position will be kept under review.
Is the Minister aware that the funds being sought were to be used to match a Bord Fáilte grant for the development of a caravan site at Keel, Achill, which is the centre of tourist development in the area? As this is the first stage of a development which dates back to 1967, when the site was taken over, would the Minister reconsider the possibility of allocating the money? Otherwise the Bord Fáilte grant will be lost as well.
I will certainly reconsider the matter, but I could not hold out any hope of funds being made available in this financial year.
This matter has been under consideration for some time and it is the first phase of an important development in the area's tourist industry.
A question, please.
In view of the fact that a Bord Fáilte grant of £125,000 for the development of this project may now be lost, will the Minister make the money available in this financial year?
I will look at the matter again but I cannot hold out any hope to the Deputy that the funds will be made available in this financial year.