Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:30 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he intends to increase the funding to be made available for trade promotion. [17671/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Funding for Trade Promotion.
David Andrews
Ceist:31 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the State and EU funding, if any, allocated and spent to support Irish trade in 1995. [1381/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
An Bord Tráchtála is the body under the aegis of my Department which receives State and EU funding to support or promote Irish trade. ABT's grant-in-aid allocation and spend for 1995 was £34.5 million. The EU structural funds element of this amounted to £9.983 million. ABT's 1996 grant-in-aid has been maintained at £34.5 million. I am satisfied that the substantial Exchequer funding provided to ABT this year will enable it to fulfil its statutory role effectively.