Tourism Ireland: Funding

HL Deb 07 September 2004 vol 664 c99WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What funding Tourism Ireland has sought each year since 2000; how much was agreed each year; whether indicative budgets were set; if so, for how much; and when. [HL3592]

Baroness Amos

In 2001 Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL) drew down set-up funding of £1.218 million. The TIL draft annual operating plans for 2002, 2003 and 2004 sought indicative funding of £29.7 million, £29.8 million and £38.1 million respectively.

The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) approved the operating plans and recommended budget allocations as follows:

• 2002—£29.65 million
• 2003—£30.238 million¹
• 2004—£36.27 million

¹ An additional allocation of £3.879 million for specific agreed marketing initiatives was also approved by the NSMC.