asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he will support, at EC Council level, any initiative from the Commission to establish a Community Tourism Fund which could make a major contribution to the development of Ireland's tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Community Tourism Fund.
28.
I would be prepared to support any initiative from the Commission which would envisage the establishment of a Community Tourism Fund. I have supported this idea in recent contacts with the EEC Commissioner for Tourism.
Will the Minister not agree that the regulation of 12 March to encourage tourism development in depressed areas should benefit areas, such as lakeland areas which we discussed, and that it is important to pursue tourism development under that regulation?
I accept that Deputy Leonard's points are very valid in relation to severely handicapped areas where tourism is a priority industry. I am pursuing intensively the proposal that an EC fund should be made available for tourism development.
Would the Minister agree that in that directive there is a definite shift from agricultural production into other areas such as tourism, which could be used to great advantage here?
I agree with the Deputy. Limited funds are already available for tourism under the Social Fund, but we really need a tourism policy within the EC with a specific tourism budget. This is my aspiration and my discussion with the commissioner for tourism will cover that.
We will now move on to questions nominated for priority.