asked the Minister for Transport and Power what steps are being taken to provide additional facilities for the transport of tourist cars to this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Facilities for Tourist Car Transport.
13.
Facilities are being provided at Dún Laoghaire Pier for the transport of cars to this country by the mailboats and it is hoped that some 2,000 additional cars will be carried inwards in 1960. An air car ferry service will be operated between Liverpool and Dublin from 25th April, 1960, by an independent British company which expects to carry 3,000 cars each way this year and hopes to increase that figure in subsequent years. The necessary terminal facilities are being provided at Dublin Airport. These developments should bring about a 50 per cent. increase in import of tourists' cars which amounted to 10,371 in 1959.
Is the Minister aware that, going to continental countries, three or four passengers accompanied by a tourist car can bring the car for a very modest sum, through some device operated by the tourist resources of the host country? Is it intended to extend facilities for bringing cars here on similar lines?
There are no funds for that purpose at present.
But we are going to vote the Tourist Board a very large sum in a Supplementary Estimate very shortly.
I thought the Deputy was referring to a direct subsidy for transporting cars. If the Deputy asks the Minister for Industry and Commerce a question he can find out the nature of this subvention which is not a direct subsidy per car.
The fact is if three or four people are going to certain continental countries with a car the car travels for next to nothing. It is done at the expense of the host country. I suggest to the Minister that if we are providing extra facilities, it will not achieve much to bring tourists here if it costs too much to bring in a car.
Does the Minister say there are no special facilities or reductions for the importation of cars and passengers?
What I said was there is no direct subsidy to reduce the cost of the cross-channel transport of cars to here.
Does the Minister's Department do anything to encourage tourists to come here with cars at any time of the year, or arrange for a reduced fare?
In connection with that, so far as car ferries are concerned, my Department, Bord Fáilte and the Board of Works have been examining this proposition to provide for the transport of cars by the mail boat service. All the Departments concerned have been working on this with some success, as the Deputy will see.
For the Minister's information, there is a reduced fare in the month of May. It shows that the Minister does not know anything about his Department.
Might I ask the Minister if he will agree that the situation which is about to obtain this year is much more satisfactory than anything which obtained up to now? Will he accept my congratulations on the magnificent efforts he made in this regard?
Would the Minister state whether these cars will be brought in the ships which the Minister for External Affairs——
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy should not interrupt in this fashion.