Vol. 462 No. 2
213 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has received representations from the Irish Hotels Federation expressing its concern and dissatisfaction at the anomalies which currently exist between approved and unapproved accommodation alleging that such anomalies not only facilitate unfair competition but lead to a deterioration in quality standards; whether he supports this contention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/96]
The Irish Hotels Federation presented its views to me in relation to the unapproved accommodation sector and I have addressed the matter in detail most recently in my speech at the federation's recent annual seminar in Cork.
Mandatory approval of all accommodation would not be practical nor would it necessarily improve standards to any great extent. It could, in fact, reduce the accommodation bank available, particularly during the high season and at the cheaper end of the market, and it would certainly give rise to endless policing and prosecution problems.
The best approach is to ensure that the unapproved sector does not have advantages over the approved. At present unapproved operators do not have access to official marketing through Bord Fáilte and the Tourist Information Offices, nor do they have access to tax breaks or other subsidised finance schemes which are available to the approved sector. The pilot tax relief scheme for the tourist resort areas and the subsidised tourism loan schemes were carefully designed so that only approved operators would be eligible.
Unapproved operators, on the other hand, are obliged to comply in the same way as the approved sector with requirements, for example, in the areas of taxation, planning, fire safety and hygiene. My Department has been impressing on the relevant enforcement agencies the need for constant vigilance to ensure that their policing or inspection practices do not discriminate between approved and unapproved sectors.
The ideal solution would be to encourage the unapproved sector to become approved. I am hopeful that following the restructuring of Bord Fáilte, the associations which have been recognised by the board for the purpose of approving the B & B sector will be successful in increasing their membership.
