Michael Ring
Ceist:151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if funding will be sanctioned for a feasibility study for a development of a marina (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2087/02]
Written Answers. - Marine Tourism
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, 25.4 million has been allocated to marine tourism, and targeted particularly at improving marine access infrastructure such as marinas, berths and slipways. This funding will be made available through the marine tourism grants scheme which will be implemented by my Department as part of the two regional operational programmes. Under the marine tourism grants scheme, funding will be available for feasibility studies in respect of marine access infrastructural projects.
In order to initiate the marine tourism grants scheme, my Department has already announced the first call for applications and I intend to formally launch the scheme within the coming week. Following the launch, formal application forms and guidelines will be made available by my Department to all parties who have expressed an interest in the scheme, including those in Carrowmore-Lacken, Ballina, County Mayo. Once the grants scheme is in place and a formal application received from the promoters of proposed projects, they will be assessed in accordance with the procedures laid down under the scheme.