asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will give details of the areas which will be affected by the cut of £4 million in Bord Fáilte estimates for 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord Fáilte Funding.
29.
The grant-in-aid to Bord Fáilte under Subhead B.1 of my Department's Estimate for 1988 is £16.527 million. This is £4.2 million less than the corresponding provision for 1987. Provision is made under this subhead for the administration and general expenses of Bord Fáilte under the following broad heads:
(a)Pay,
(b)Administration, fees, rent, travelling expenses, etc.,
(c)Promotion and marketing,
(d)Publication and printed publicity,
(e)Overseas offices in the US, Canada, Britain, Europe and elsewhere,
(f)The regional tourism organisations,
(g)Conferences and festivals.
Bord Fáilte have been asked to examine all aspects of their operation to see, particularly, where savings can be achieved and where they can increase income from private sector sources so as to maintain, as far as possible, marketing and promotional expenditure.
I expect the board's budget proposals for 1988 to be submitted to me shortly.
Can the Minister give us an estimate of the job losses involved as a result of the cut in the Estimates? Will he also give an indication of the number and location of the offices that will be closed?
I have no machinery to assess that as of now until I get the report back from Bord Fáilte.
Does the Minister see the role of promotion of the Irish tourist industry being done on an agency basis, a fee-paying basis by such agencies, rather than by Bord Fáilte? Are their duties going to be taken over by the private sector?
No. What I said was that within the figures given Bord Fáilte were asked by me in a direct letter to save the promotion and marketing side of their budget. Also, both in the recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report and in recommendations generally with regard to the tourist industry, we are expecting a major increase in funding from private people in the industry; in other words, from the hoteliers, restaurateurs and so forth.
Are Bord Fáilte going to inform the Minister at some future date as to where the economies will be made and will he inform us as soon as he gets that information?
The last sentence of my reply stated that I expected the board's budget proposals for 1988 to be submitted to me shortly.
That disposes of ordinary questions and questions nominated for priority for today.