§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the cross-border study of the Erne catchment area.
§ Mr. MasonOn 5 February 1979 my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and Mr. O'Kennedy, the Foreign Minister for the Republic of Ireland, announced a study into the Erne catchment area. The 311W study is being carried out by PA Management Consultants of London and by Brady, Shipman and Martin of Dublin, on behalf of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland Governments and the EEC. The estimated cost of the study is £80,000,50 per cent. of which will be met by the EEC and the remainder divided equally between the two Governments.
The consultants' terms of reference are as follows:
To assess and report on the development potential of the Erne Catchment Area with reference to the development of tourist amenities and tourism requirements in matters such as accommodation, access and marketing and the development of land resources through arterial drainage and to make recommendations for the region as a wholeIt is anticipated that a report will be submitted to both Governments and to the Commission by the end of this year.