Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 974: To ask 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]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I 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.