Vol. 424 No. 5
4 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Taoiseach the average number of bednights spent in Ireland by American tourists arriving in Ireland via Shannon Airport; and the average number of bednights spend by American tourists arriving via Dublin Airport.
5 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Taoiseach the percentage of bednights spent in the various tourist regions by American tourists arriving in Ireland via Dublin Airport and by American tourists arriving in Ireland via Shannon Airport.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
The available information relates to the average number of nights spent in Ireland by visitors from the USA and Canada combined. In 1991 the average was estimated as 11.4 nights. This compares with an average of 10.5 nights in 1990. Estimates have not yet been compiled for 1992.
This information is not available separately for visitors arriving via Shannon Airport and via Dublin Airport. Also, a breakdown of nights spent in the various tourist regions is not available.
Would the Minister not agree that there is an onus on the Government and on his Department to establish the details of the number of bednights spent by tourists arriving in Shannon and the number of bednights spent in the county by tourists arriving in Dublin? Would he not agree there is an onus on the Government to establish how these tourists transport themselves to the various regions of the county in view of the plans for regional development? Unless this information is available how can a proper regional development plan be put in place?
I am sorry, the Deputy's Questions Nos. 4 and 5 are statistical and questions of policy ought, therefore, not to arise. If the Deputy has a question on the statistical aspect of the questions it would be in order, otherwise she will have to put down other questions on the policy aspect.
If the information is not available within his Department is it not available to his Department from the various research carried out and the various reports which have been produced and published over the past two years in relation to bednights? Is he not aware that information coming from these reports specifically stated that the average number of bednights spent by tourists arriving in Shannon averages out at about 11 whereas the average number for tourists arriving via Dublin is six to eight?
I am not aware of the statistics the Deputy has quoted. It would be most difficult to compile statistics on the number of bednights by tourist region because obviously people travel into the country either through Shannon or Dublin and then travel to various regions in the country. Statistics are available for the number of visits made by people from various countries, particularly North America and Canada, to Shannon and Dublin. If the Deputy wants a list of that information I would be delighted to get it for her.
Is the Minister in a position to let us have this information in the House today?
On the trans-Atlantic route from the US to Shannon there were 93,409 passengers and 60,523 passengers on the trans-Atlantic route from the US to Dublin.
Do those specific figures relate to transit or terminal passengers?
They represent the number of visits made by North American residents in 1991, classified by route of travel. I have no indication as to whether they are transit but I presume they are taken as arriving at Shannon or Dublin and travelling on from there, but internally.
Question No. 6 please.
I should like to ask one final question. Do those figures relate to passengers travelling by Aer Lingus and do they include passengers travelling through Aeroflot airlines?
They relate to trans-Atlantic air passengers; the numbers from the various airlines are not specified. I can make the figures available to the Deputy.
Ceist a sé.
