asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the failure of An Tóstal to attract visitors to this country in appreciable numbers, he will recommend to An Bord Fáilte that it should be discontinued, or, alternatively, that it should be held later in the year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - An Tóstal.
I am unable to agree with the Deputy's assessment of the value of An Tóstal. The official statistics indicate that since An Tóstal was first held in 1953 there has been an increase practically every year in the number of travellers arriving in this country during the months of April and May, and there can be no doubt also but that the interest aroused by An Tóstal conduces to an increase in tourist traffic outside the Tóstal period.
As I have indicated on previous occasions, An Tóstal is, to an extent, an experimental project, and I consider that there has been as yet, insufficient experience of the success attending the holding of the festival to justify a pessimistic decision on its potential value. An Tóstal will be held in 1958 at approximately the same period as in the present year. The period selected for the holding of An Tóstal was determined after consultation with all the tourist interests concerned and is in accordance with the views expressed by the majority of these interests.
Has the Minister got convenient the figures to which he referred in the beginning of that reply?
The figures would be the figures for total arrivals and would not indicate any special association——
The Minister has not got them handy?
No.
I understood the Minister to say that the official statistics showed an increase during the Tóstal period—that it was increasing annually? I understand he is not in a position to give accurate figures but can he explain how that estimate is arrived at?
It would be the number of people arriving in the country by land, sea and air. It would not necessarily be an indication of the value of An Tóstal but the fact that, over the years, the number arriving during that period has increased would be more or less an encouragement.
The figures of arrivals are available for every month?
Yes. These figures would be for last year, not for this year.