Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 8

Written Answers. - Operational Programme for Tourism.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

40 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether his Department or the tourism agencies that is, Bord Fáilte and SFADCo, were the final arbiters in relation to applications for financial assistance under the operational programme for tourism, 1989 to 1993; the role of the monitoring committee which was chaired by a civil servant of his Department in relation to the approval of grants under that programme; whether any decision has been made on who will be the final arbiter on applications for assistance under the current round of structural funds; whether the monitoring committee or any similar body will continue to meet to discuss applications under this round; the powers that the committee will have to approve or reject applications; the role he or his Department will have in the approval or rejection of applications for aid under the current round; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. McCreevy)

The Operational Programme for Tourism, 1989-1993, designated my Department as the national authority in charge of programme management. This entailed a wide range of analytical and reporting tasks, many of which were undertaken by the Tourism OP Monitoring Committee, but neither the Department nor this committee played any role in determining what specific applications under the programme received assistance.

Similarly, the sub-committee for Sub-Programmes 1 and 2 which was also chaired by my Department and included the supervising officers in Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development in charge of programme funds as well as representatives of Office of Public Works— was required under the programme to ensure the maximum integration of measures and a standard application of assessment procedures in relation to all capital projects proposed for assistance by Bord Fáilte, Shannon Development and Office of Public Works. In discharging their role on the sub-committee, all the other participant agencies, including my Department, commented and provided advice on the projects recommended by the individual agencies. Ultimately, however, the decision to approve or disapprove a project rested with the agencies.

Under the Global Grant Agreements concluded with the European Commission, Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development were separately responsible in their own areas for implementing the programme's grant assistance measures for private sector tourism development. Both organisations also acted as the agencies for the grant assistance, in conjunction with Office of Public Works and ESB International in relation to their particular spheres of responsibility.

In so far as the next round of Structural Funds is concerned, I propose that my Department, in its role as the initiator and custodian of Government tourism policy, should have a wider role in determining the priorities for future grant assistance and in monitoring the administration of the Tourism Operational Programme, 1994-1999. While I do not propose to make my Department the final arbiter in adjudicating on individual grant applications under the programme, I am committed to ensuring that it will have a decisive role in achieving consistency and cohesion as between project assistance and overall tourism policy.

As to the next Community Support Framework, the Deputy will be aware that negotiations between the Government and the European Commission are ongoing in regard to it, including the next Tourism Operational Programme. While these negotiations are proceeding, it would be premature and inappropriate to provide any details as to exact priorities or operating structures, but the House can be assured that I will make a full announcement covering all aspects at the appropriate time.