Tony Killeen
Question:18 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to address the lack of co-ordination of State and other grant-aiding agencies involved in tourism. [17035/95]
Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.
David Andrews
Question:97 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to address the lack of co-ordination of State and other grant aiding agencies involved in tourism. [17031/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 97 together.
Grant-aid schemes for tourism are currently co-funded by the EU in most instances. The primary vehicle is the Operational Programme for Tourism (1994-1999). Responsibility for administering and implementing the various measures under the programme rests with several Departments and agencies namely Departments of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Education, Marine, and Tourism and Trade; Bord Fáilte, Central Fisheries Board, CERT, Office of Public Works and Shannon Development. A Tourism Operational Programme Co-ordinating Committee, chaired by my Department, with representatives of all the implementing bodies meets on a regular basis to ensure a coherent approach to the administration of the programme. There is also a national monitoring committee for the programme, again chaired by my Department, comprised of representatives from the EU Commission, the European Investment Bank, Government Departments, the Tourism Agencies, Tourism Industry, Farming and Trade Union interests. The committee has general responsibility for ensuring smooth implementation in pursuit of the set objectives.
My Department, and as appropriate Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development, are also represented at the monitoring committee meetings of other Operational Programmes contributing to the development of the tourism industry e.g. INTERREG (Northern Ireland and Maritime), the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and Rural Development and on the appropriate regional structures for monitoring the implementation of the Community Support Framework as a whole.
Co-ordination of grant-aid for the tourism sector is a top priority, and the existence of these co-ordinating mechanisms will ensure that that priority is maintained.