HC Deb 05 July 1990 vol 175 c666W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has given any financial support to the Rathlin Island Trust; what representations he has received concerning the trust; and on what basis others are represented on the trust.

Mr. Needham

Financial support has been provided to the Rathlin Island Trust from a number of Government sources, as follows:

  1. i. The Department of the Environment has paid £8,000 in historic building grant towards the repair and maintenance of the manor house.
  2. ii. The Training and Employment Agency of the Department of Economic Development has paid £214,800 over the years 1987–88 to 1989–90 and are prepared to pay £64,000 in 1990–91 for ACE projects which include the refurbishment of the manor house, conversion of the tithe barn to create a dive centre and an environmental clean-up on the Island.
  3. iii. An offer of grant of almost £54,000 towards the cost of developing an activity centre at the manor house complex has been made by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, acting as agent for the International Fund for Ireland, under the tourism amenities scheme.
  4. iv. The trust has also applied to the Department of Economic Development for grant aid from the European regional development fund under the tourism operational programme. The application which relates to other proposed works associated with the manor house development is at present under consideration.
In recent years several representations from the Rathlin Island Trust and others have been received by Ministers about provision of services on Rathlin island; no representations about the trust have been received. I am not aware of the way in which membership of the trust is gained.