Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Seasonality Programme.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

48 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on whether the £125,000 allocated to Bord Fáilte specifically to support the special seasonality programme is adequate to achieve the objectives of the Tourism Council in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22063/96]

Máirín Quill

Question:

54 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on whether the £125,000 allocated to Bord Fáilte specifically to support the special seasonality programme is adequate to achieve the objectives of the Tourism Council in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22062/96]

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

66 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will give details of his recently announced plans for the holding of a music festival on St. Patrick's Day; the reason only four of the five main cities in the State are included in this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20752/96]

Minister for Tourism and Trade (Mr. E. Kenny)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 54 and 66 together.

As I indicated in reply to a question on 17 October, the Tourism Council, at its last meeting in Ballintubber on 11 October, agreed outline terms for a special seasonality programme for spring 1997 which will involve a musical theme and will be administered by Bord Fáilte. The event is scheduled for the first two weeks in March and will act as a lead-in to other activities, such as the St. Patrick's Day Festival. In terms of target markets, the council envisages that Britain, Northern Ireland and the home market offer the best prospects for the festival.

The Tourism Council has concluded that the proposed event should be staged in four cities, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork. The council envisages that the lead event could be supported with a series of fringe events to be organised by the regions and aimed at spreading the commercial benefits of the festival throughout the country. It will be the responsibility of organisations at local level to encourage participation in various fringe events among the trade.

While the details have yet to be worked out, it is envisaged that the proposed festival will be financed through a combination of commercial income, sponsorship and support provided through industry, EU and State sources. I have agreed to the allocation of £125,000 to Bord Fáilte specifically to support the programme.

Deputies will be aware of a range of measures being taken to help address the seasonality profile of Irish tourism as set out in the detailed reply on this subject on 17 October.