asked the Minister for Transport and Power the total number of people employed by Bord Fáilte at home and abroad; the number who are employed in office work; and the number of field staff engaged in marketing and promotion.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord Fáilte Personnel.
11.
Under the relevant statute the board are authorised to appoint such staff as it thinks proper.
I am informed by the board that their total staff numbers 390. Of these 216 are engaged in marketing, 73 in development and 101 in administration and general services.
Is the Minister aware that it is the opinion of many people in the tourist industry, particularly travel agents abroad, that the number of field staff employed by Bord Fáilte is totally inadequate? Would the Minister agree to look into this matter or has it already been investigated in the examination of the tourist business which the Minister said was being carried out last July? The number of field staff — the people who are selling Ireland in Britain, on the continent and in the United States — appears to be very small.
It is proposed to devote increased funds to the marketing and field staff aspects of Bord Fáilte's activities in the coming years and indeed for the coming season. At the same time the present division is good in this respect; there are 216 engaged in marketing, 73 in development and 101 in administration. However, more attention needs to be devoted to the marketing side and this will be done immediately.
To illustrate my point, is the Minister aware that in Great Britain there is only one full-time angling promotion officer employed by Bord Fáilte despite the fact that the sea angling has tremendous potential?
I am aware that the marketing side of Bord Fáilte's activities requires increased attention and increased funds. This will be examined.