Vol. 501 No. 1
68 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farm families engaged in agri-tourism; the supports, if any, which this sector of tourism is receiving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/99]
The position is that the agri-tourism scheme which is operated under the current Operational Programme for Agriculture Rural Development and Forestry, was launched by my Department in March 1995.
Under the scheme grant aid was available to individual farmers and to groups of rural dwellers which must include at least one farmer for the provision of leisure facilities and related tourist accommodation, subject to the investment on the accommodation not exceeding 50 per cent of the cost of the entire project. In addition, assistance was provided towards the cost of marketing and promotion.
Some 375 projects have been approved for grant aid amounting to some £7 million under the current scheme and to date 250 of the projects have been paid grant aid amounting to over £4 million. A total of 350 farmers are directly participating in the leisure and accommodation element of the scheme. In addition, there are many more farmers benefiting from the grant aid awarded to sectoral and regional marketing campaigns under the scheme.
Aid is also available for rural tourism under the Leader programme for the development of tourist facilities and amenities, tourist accommodation and the promotion and marketing of local tourist products. Public expenditure on rural tourism to date under the Leader programme amounts to £5.8 million.
Due to the exceptionally high interest in the scheme the funding provided for the measure has now been fully committed.
In addition, Teagasc continues to provide important support to the rural tourism sector, which includes agri-tourism, through its involvement in the provision of training programmes for rural communities, and the provision of advice in the development of various tourist related projects.
