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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

314 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the funding available for festivals (details supplied) further to correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26105/03]

I regret that my Department does not provide funding for sea angling festivals. I understand, however, that Fáilte Ireland provide funding for festival and cultural events. Fáilte Ireland recently invited funding applications and the closing date for receipt of applications is 28 November 2003. Application forms are available from Fáilte Ireland's website at www.failteireland.ie or from the cultural events officer, Tel 6024249.

With reference to your correspondence in relation to the demise of sea angling festivals nationally, and in particular the use of boats which have been certified by the United Kingdom, the position is that boats carrying up to 12 passengers for reward require a passenger boat licence issued by my Department. Boats which hold United Kingdom certificates are required to be surveyed by surveyors from my Department for compliance with Irish requirements. Each application is considered on a case by case basis.

The marine safety directorate of my Department has been in contact with the Maritime Coastguard Agency, MCA, surveyor in charge in Belfast about mutual recognition of certificates, as the United Kingdom does not accept our passenger boat licences and requires an inspection for issue of a United Kingdom certificate. There have also been discussions with MCA headquarters in Southampton about this issue. The conclusion reached from these discussions is that United Kingdom and Irish legislation requires national certificates.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

315 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the level of funding allocated to each county in the BMW region by his Department under the various operational programmes since the estab lishment of the BMW Regional Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26149/03]

Investment under the national development plan in respect of the communications, energy, marine and natural resources sectors is spread across 43 measures under the two regional operational programmes, BMW and south and east, the three inter-regional or sectoral operational programmes, the rural development plan and the cross-Border initiatives.

It is not possible within the time available to provide details of the level of funding allocated to each county in the BMW region under the various NDP operational programmes. It is also the case that expenditure by my Department under the NDP, such as that on energy conservation, marketing, training and RTDI, could only be attributed indicatively on a county basis.

I will arrange for the detailed breakdown, in so far as this is available for the Departments NDP measures, to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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