asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if his Department has any plans at present or is in the process of preparing plans to assist hoteliers and guesthouse owners by way of grants, rates allowances or any other incentives.

The provision of financial assistance for the development and improvement of tourist accommodation is a statutory function of Bord Fáilte but the terms of any such schemes and the financial provision made for them are subject to my approval. At present Bord Fáilte operate two grant schemes for hotels and guesthouses, one to encourage the repair and renewal of premises adversely affected by bad trading conditions and the other to assist owners to provide amenities and carry out improvements. Expenditure in this area has been running at a rate of over £1 million a year. In addition hotel and guesthouse owners benefit very substantially from Bord Fáilte expenditure on marketing and promotion.

There has been no general inadequacy in our stock of hotels and guesthouses in recent years and accordingly earlier schemes of financial assistance for the provision of additional accommodation are being phased out. There are no proposals before me at present for any new schemes of assistance. I am, however, in conjunction with Bord Fáilte, reviewing the general policy in relation to tourism and the adequacy of our present tourist facilities, including the accommodation sector, to ensure that there are no barriers to the expansion of the tourist traffic. This review will encompass all sectors of the tourist industry.

Would the Minister agree that, while there has been an overall increase in the amount of revenue generated by the tourist industry, the bed occupancy for 1975 and going back a considerable number of years is only about 40 per cent, and that this ratio indicates that hoteliers, guesthouse owners and so on are having difficulty in meeting their overhead costs? Surely some aids should be provided for them.

As I told the Deputy, I am reviewing the whole matter.

Would the Minister agree that there has been a reduction in the number of hotels and guesthouses? Would he consider having discussions with the Minister for the Environment with a view to having rates remission granted to people in this line of business? Otherwise people in hotels, guesthouses and even small farmhouses may decide not to continue providing this facility if rates are imposed on them.

All I can say is that I am reviewing the whole situation.

Surely the Minister will agree that the hotel industry is in need of a financial injection?

No. 16.