asked the Minister for Finance if he will make funds available to the South-West Kerry Development Organisation, to be paid through Kerry County Council to enable that organisation, who have a special project officer employed with his Department's approval to develop this region which has the highest unemployment rate in the country by promoting the natural potential of areas such as tourism, forestry, fishing and agriculture to the maximum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - South-West Kerry Economic Development.
72.
Special arrangements are already in operation to assist the economic development of south-west Kerry. In addition to the wide range of aids generally available to the designated areas, the special project officer referred to in the question was appointed in October 1981, as an additional assistant county development officer to the Kerry County Development Team and given special responsibility for the south-west of the county. The county development team have a very broadly defined role in the economic development of their area and, in pursuit of that role, the services of this additional officer are freely available to individuals and organisations in south-west Kerry. He can assist any of them in seeking support from the appropriate public agencies for worthwhile projects, including projects in tourism, forestry, fishing and agriculture. Moreover, in suitable cases, grants would be available from the western development fund.
I am convinced that these arrangements are such that no worthwhile project will fail for lack of resources. Bodies such as the South-West Kerry Development Organisation have a valued contribution to make to the development of their areas. They can best make this contribution by collaborating with the promotional and other activities undertaken by the public agencies concerned with development and by availing to the full of the wide range of incentives and services which these agencies administer.