Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action his Department is taking to support business opportunities for farmers and SMEs in agri-tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5932/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds, through the Leader companies, the area based rural development initiative, a sub-measure of the regional operational programmes aimed at providing support for the development of the rural/agri-tourism sector. The initiative, in so far as it supports the latter sector, has a budget of €30 million for the period 2000-06 and provides support for the development of the rural/agri-tourism product, including the provision of amenities, accommodation and marketing. This support is provided for eligible projects in rural areas generally.

My Department also funds the western development tourism programme, WDTP, through the rural development fund, RDF. The WDTP was established to develop a strategic approach to tourism initiatives in underdeveloped areas within the western region. It has been awarded €405,000 from the RDF for the period April 2003 to December 2006. In addition, €192,500 has been allocated from the RDF for Galway East Tourism Marketing Limited for the period 2003 to the end of 2006. This project aims to promote and develop the potential for rural tourism in east Galway.

Funding of €55,000 has recently been approved from the RDF for the Irish Rural Tourism Federation to assist it in developing a communications strategy. Údarás na Gaeltachta and the islands section of my Department also support rural tourism in various ways.