(Donegal South-West): Absolute priorities for the next round of Structural Funds for the tourism sector, including the maritime leisure industry, will be determined in the light of available funds. It is clear that there is a need for increased funds for marketing certain infrastructural improvements in the areas of roads and sanitary services, and for some large scale anchor projects. The Deputy also referred to the large conference centre catering for up to 1,000 delegates. It is for the Minister to formulate a development plan and he is in the process of doing that. He has consulted with and taken advice from the industry. We have to await a decision before we know exactly what the allocation and priorities will be.
In considering large scale projects we should consider the 40 per cent assisted under the Operational Programme 1989-93 which involved investments in excess of £0.5 million each. A further 21 per cent were between £1 million and £5 million and 2 per cent or eight projects involved were investments in excess of £5 million each. There is a perception that there were not sufficient large scale projects. There has to be a reasonable balance between the anchor and the smaller projects. I hope that the balance will be incorporated in the tourism plan.