John O'Donoghue
Question:27 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his policy regarding the uniformity of standards in the bed and breakfast and guesthouse sector. [10254/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Accommodation.
Brian Cowen
Question:42 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, made on the new accommodation registration system established in 1995. [10255/96]
Brian Cowen
Question:68 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by him to ensure the standard of accommodation provided for tourists is of a sufficient and uniformly high standard. [10256/96]
Mr. O'Sullivan
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 42 and 68 together.
One of the major changes arising from the Arthur D. Little consultancy review of Bord Fáilte was the outsourcing of certain of the board's inspection and associated functions in relation to the registration and grading of tourist accommodation under the Tourist Traffic Acts of 1939 and 1995 and the certification of restaurants under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988.
The 1995 Tourist Traffic Act enabled Bord Fáilte to subcontract these functions to a third party but did not provide for changes in the existing registration conditions and standards. Under the new arrangements, the board will retain ownership of the registration and grading standards, continue to set the criteria for registration and grading and prescribe the various fees involved by regulation made, with the consent of the Minister for Tourism and Trade, under the provisions of the Tourist Traffic Acts, 1939-1995. Bord Fáilte will also continue to retain responsibility for the operation of the final stages of the appeals mechanism provided for under the Acts, when applications for registration and renewal of registration are refused and in the case of cancellation of registration. It will also be involved in the final stages of the appeals mechanism for grading accommodation. Bord Fáilte will also monitor the performance of the contractor to ensure that operations are efficiently carried out and quality standards maintained.
Following an open, publicly advertised tendering procedure conducted in accordance with EU rules, Tourism Quality Services (Ireland) Limited was selected to undertake the functions being outsourced. A contract for a period of five years was signed between Bord Fáilte and Tourism Quality Services (Ireland) Limited, an Irish subsidiary established to carry out the work. The company, which is based in Dublin, has recruited locally. Tourism Quality Services (Ireland) Limited will undertake inspections and related functions in relation to the registration and classification of hotels, guesthouses, caravan and camping sites, holiday cottages and holiday apartments — group schemes above eight units only — and the registration of holiday hostels, youth hostels and holiday camps.
In the case of the bed and breakfast sector a number of industry associations have been formally recognised by Bord Fáilte as self-regulatory bodies for the purpose of approving bed and breakfast and other specialist accommodation and awarding the shamrock symbol subject to their complying with Bord Fáilte agreed standards.
The Minister is acutely conscious of the importance of maintaining high quality standards for tourist accommodation. Providing a product of the highest quality is a fundamental objective of Government policy for the development of the tourism sector. There is no reason to believe that the operational changes which have taken place will adversely affect standards. The key roles being retained by Bord Fáilte in the registration, grading and certification process and in relation to the setting of the bed and breakfast standards will be critical in ensuring that the board maintains tight control on the standards and procedures to be used while being relieved of the more routine physical inspection procedures.