Extract from the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000:
Advances by Minister for marine or natural resources based tourism or heritage projects.
46.—The Minister may, from time to time, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, advance to a person, out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, for the purposes of marine or natural resource based tourism or heritage projects, such sums, by way of grant or loan, as the Minister may determine and upon such terms and conditions as he or she considers necessary.
That provision has nothing whatsoever to do with marine casualties. It seems to allow ministers to splash the (taxpayers’) cash to anyone they favour. The provision should be repealed immediately.
I presume that the minister, at the time when the act was introduced, did not notice the oddity of this inclusion.
Irish waterways history 
View from across the Pond.
The Minister may, from time to time, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, advance to a person, out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, (( for the purposes of marine or natural resource based tourism or heritage projects, such sums, by way of grant or loan)), as the Minister may determine and upon such terms and conditions as he or she considers necessary.
These (( )) are mine…I consider that funds should be provided on a Loan Term only with a Sensible Repayment Period for Marine or Natural Resourced based tourism to Sound Business Proposal clients only.
At No Point However, should funding be redirected away from the Safety & Resources providing security to Any Mariner within the juristiction of the Republic of Eire.
Tourism brings serious economic benefits to all of the people of the Republic…even if not directly involved in the industry. Ditto for All Things Maritime!!!
The Republic of Eire has recently changed the ” Crew of the Ship ” on the ” Bridge of the Dail “. Transparancy of the People’s Tax Funds & the management of same is now, more than ever, absolutely necessary and All Hands are Required on the Pumps to successfully pull Eire from this current economic quagmire & to STOP the Hemorage of Families exiting from the emerald Republic.
Cheers!