Vol. 462 No. 2
22 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the threat to environmentally sensitive and important heritage areas from mass tourism; the studies, if any, that have been undertaken regarding this problem; the steps, if any, which have been taken in specific areas of concern to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4344/96]
Following record growth in tourism to Ireland in recent years, overseas visitor numbers to Ireland in 1995 amounted to 4.25 million. Taking into account regional and seasonal spread and local population densities, this would not be seen as constituting mass tourism by international standards. Nevertheless, in view of the experience of other tourism destinations, understandable concerns have been expressed about the negative effect that tourism growth can have on the environment.
Statutory responsibility for environmental protection generally rests with the Minister for the Environment while the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has certain statutory responsibilities specifically in relation to the protection of heritage areas. I understand that the Heritage Services — National Parks and Wildlife Services and National Monuments and Historic Properties Service — of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht operate an ongoing review of the impact of visitors on heritage sites in order that suitable control and management procedures are exercised and applied as necessary.
The Minister seems to play down this whole question of mass tourism. Does he accept there are areas to which very large numbers of tourists are attracted, that the sensitivities of these areas are not capable of handling this huge volume of people and that there is a threat to the destruction of the attraction of the area arising from the huge numbers of people who want to visit it? I have in mind a place like Inis Mór, where thousands upon thousands of visitors land every day during the summer on an island which has a very sensitive infrastructure. In view of his special responsibility for tourism, what studies has the Minister carried out to ensure that these areas are pinpointed and appropriate steps taken either by his Department or at the urging of his Department to ensure that the heritage is not destroyed for all time?
My responsibility as Minister for Tourism is to see that we create 35,000 new jobs by the end of 1999, bringing the tourism revenue yield up to £2.25 million per year. I am aware of the difficulties being experienced in a specific number of very important locations. I am also aware of the incidence of up to 5,000 people visiting Inis Mór on a single day last year. This does nothing for the quality tourism we promote, or for the perception and understanding of native Irish culture and the personality of the Aran Islands for those who visit them in such numbers. It also places undue pressure on the water, sewerage and refuse disposal services provided by the local authority.
There is no sewerage.
I understand that. This area and a number of others around the country are environmentally sensitive to undue visitor numbers. There is a drive, with the co-operation of the regional tourism organisations, to move visitors to other parts of the country that have not experienced a surplus of tourists in recent years. At international and national travel trade promotions, areas that were not traditionally involved in their own marketing are now doing so, and doing it very well. This is in line with our tourism objective of not only bringing greater numbers to the country and increasing revenue yield, but of meeting the challenge of moving these people to as many areas as possible.
The Minister will be aware that forests are sprouting up all over the west and north-west, without the need for planning permission provided the plantation is under 500 acres. Will the Minister give an assurance to the House that he will seek to have an input to the discussions now going on about planning permission for forestry between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and that he will insist that only minor forests are allowed to be planted without full planning permission?
This matter is being dealth with by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in the context of the Heritage Bill which is due to come before the Cabinet. Strictly this is a matter for the Department of the Environment, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. As a political representative from the west and as Minister for Tourism, I am aware of the implications of what the Deputy says.
I am amazed at the Minister's negative response to the supplementary question in suggesting that he will devote the energies of his Department to attracting people to other areas. The Aran Islands are a major highlight of people's visit to the west, and they are very welcome on the islands. My question relates to the need to ensure adequate facilities to cater for the numbers coming to the islands so that the numbers in themselves will not destroy the beauty, heritage and sensitivities of the environment on the islands. It is a question of organising tourism, not shunting it off to some other location, which seems to be a very negative way of dealing with it. Does the Minister feel he has any responsibilities in this matter? What studies has he undertaken? Will he have studies undertaken? What action will he take?
Deputy Molloy has, for his own reasons, deliberately distorted what I said. Ballinamore in County Leitrim is as entitled to visitors as any other place. I am not responsible for the numbers who turn up at ferry points for access to the Aran Islands. My job as Minister for Tourism is to market Ireland internationally as a place of quality tourism, competitively priced, where people from abroad can have an enjoyable quality holiday. It is a matter of managing those who travel to the Aran Islands or to any other place. There are other sensitive locations where the Office of Public Works has had to limit access because of fear of damage to our national and prehistoric monuments. That matter is being looked at by the regional tourism organisations who send me regular reports on visitor numbers, where they come from and the areas they visit. It is a matter of management by the Department of the Environment and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, together with the private operators who are involved in commercial activities in bringing visitors to these places in the first instance.
What are the Minister's responsibilities?
As a Galway representative Deputy Molloy should understand that the experience of visiting Inis Mór on a quick trip out and a quick trip back is not the kind of cultural experience I would like to see given to visitors.
I agree that the Minister's responsibility is to increase the number of jobs and the number of tourists visiting the country. It is also his job to secure the long-term interests of the industry.
Hear, hear.
The environmental damage being done by tourists in other countries is enormous, and much of it is irreparable. It will be very important as the years go by to ensure that we do not spoil the product. I have no doubt that some spots around the country have reached saturation point with traffic jams as bad as any in Dublin — I will not name them because it would not be fair to them.
What is the Deputy's question?
The Minister should examine the long-term effects of tourism in certain parts of the country. It is vital that we do not kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
I agree with the sentiment of the Deputy's question. The long-term implications of tourism are very important from the point of view of European Regional Development Fund funding. It is in that context that the longer-term viability of any application receives genuine consideration. Major proposals have to involve the local authority in terms of planning. It is important that we do not spoil the longer-term viability of the industry through any of these activities. That is one of the reasons the special resorts scheme was introduced in last year's budget, to give an impetus to the development of further quality facilities in areas that were not traditionally or are not currently as strong as they could be in terms of dealing with visitor numbers from the point of view of provision of facilities and so on. We will examine the effect of that on an ongoing basis. I am concerned that we should retain the thread of quality that runs through all our tourism promotions. That involves planning, the provision of proper facilities and sensitivity to the environment.
