Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2007
974 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the overall budget in the National Development Plan within the Border Midland Western region for the development of the angling sector; the amount spent up to 31 December 2006; the projected spend for 2007; the promised spend under the NDP up to the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1390/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that originally, an indicative budget of €21.4million of Exchequer funding was identified for the Tourism and Recreational Angling Measure (TRAM) for the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme of the National Development Plan (2000-2006). The launch of the measure was delayed pending State aids clearance from the EU Commission, which was received in March 2002.
I understand that a decision was made during 2002 in the context of other budgetary priorities to curtail the actual allocation to the measure. There was, however, a limited call for applications where over 60 applications were received. A number of these projects were approved for funding by the Tourism Product Selection Board and expenditure of €504,025 for the BMW region was incurred towards the end of 2002.
The mid term evaluation by the ESRI of the NDP 2000-2006 in respect of the Marine Tourism sub-measure recommended that the indicative budget for this scheme be reallocated to other priority tourism measures. As a result there was no further expenditure for the remainder of the term of the programme.
