Vol. 467 No. 4
50 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the steps, if any, he is taking to enable local authorities to play a wider role in the promotion of tourism in their areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13429/96]
Local authorities have always played an important role in tourism development in their localities. They are represented on the regional tourism authority boards and on the county tourism committees which are the most inclusive and best placed bodies to act as co-ordinators and facilitators of local initiatives on tourism, as they are part of a national network which is full integrated with Bord Fáilte's overseas marketing operations.
The success of the tourism industry in recent years has also increased pressure on local authorities to expand infrastructure, in particular, the provision of water, waste disposal and roads to facilitate the further development of the industry in their areas.
While the role of local authorities is, of course, a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for the Environment and while I am satisfied with their representation on the regional tourism authority boards and on the county tourism committees, I would like to encourage local authorities to continue to contribute both practically and financially to the further development of the tourism sector.
