Edward Nealon
Ceist:25 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the total amount of grant-aid announced by him under the operational programme for tourism 1989 to 1993.
Written Answers. - Operational Programme for Tourism.
Nora Owen
Ceist:26 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if all available financial assistance for tourism was drawn down or received from Europe in 1993, and from the operational programme for tourism 1989 to 1993.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
My Department was designated as the national authority in charge of programme management for the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1989-1993. All available European Union funds under that programme, which expired at the end of 1993, have now been committed. The total EU funds available amounted to £171.1 million as follows:
|
£m |
|
|
Product Development |
118.7 |
|
Marketing |
18.1 |
|
Training |
33.8 |
|
Technical Assistance |
0.5 |
£148.5 million has been drawn down to date.
The relevant Community Regulation allows for the draw down of funds, committed during the lifetime of the programme, for one year after the expiry of the programme i.e. to the end of 1994. I am confident that all funds will be drawn down within that time frame.
The Deputy will be aware that some financial assistance is also available for tourism development under a number of other EU measures, such as Rural Development, Leader, INTERREG etc. which are the direct responsibility of other Ministers.