Vol. 393 No. 4
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will give a progress report on the negotiations leading to the formulation of a community support framework and associated regulations for tourism; the categories of projects in the public and private sectors ranking for Community support; and the level of support agreed to date.
37.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport, in view of the contribution made by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to the tourist industry, if this organisation will qualify for grant-aid under the Structural Funds tourism grants scheme.
41.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the benefits which will accrue to Irish tourism from the recently announced Regional Fund up to 1993; the amount of finance which will be made available for the structural aspects of Irish tourism under various subheads; and the recoupment of moneys from the EC which have been negotiated.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 37 and 41, inclusive, together.
The Community Support Framework was agreed by the European Commission on 31 October. The Minister for Finance will be announcing full details shortly, including annual allocations for tourism over the five year period 1989-1993.
The categories of projects which will qualify for assistance, the conditions, intervention rates and the amounts of money for each category and recoupment procedures will be outlined in the Operational Programme for Tourism. Negotiations are still continuing with the Commission on this programme. I expect them to be finalised within the next month or so and I will announce the relevant details as soon as possible thereafter.
It is a multi-fund programme, concerning the developing and marketing of tourist amenities in Ireland to meet demand from identified segments of the international tourist markets, thereby enabling achievement of the Government's sectoral targets for job creation and the generation of foreign revenue.
Until negotiations are concluded and all applications have been assessed by Bord Fáilte and SFADCo no decisions can be taken on whether individual projects will be assisted.
