John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the uptake from the mid-Shannon tourism investment to date; if he will review the scheme in terms of the deadline set and the lack of funding available to entrepreneurs from the banking sector to make the scheme function properly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41823/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Mid-Shannon Tourism Infrastructure Investment Scheme, which was introduced in section 29 of the Finance Act 2007 and launched in June 2008, provides tax incentives for investment in tourism attractions and facilities in the designated Mid-Shannon Corridor. Any review of the Scheme in terms of the deadlines set is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance in the first instance.

The Scheme commenced in June 2008 and no formal applications for approval or certification have been made to the Mid-Shannon Tourism Investment Board to date. I am advised by the agencies that a significant number of project promoters have contacted them and Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Development are actively working with promoters to bring projects to the application stage.

I am also advised that the two agencies have organised several information seminars with tax practitioners and tourism operators to outline the workings of the Scheme, as well as a recent workshop for Local Authorities to facilitate the Scheme in their areas.