Bernard J. Durkan
Question:69 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans, if any, he has for the expansion of the tourist industry in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17263/97]
Written Answers. - Tourism Development.
The Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, sets out the principal objectives of Ireland's tourism policy and sets strategic targets for the development of the sector up to the end of the century. The programme includes objectives, strategies and targets across such key areas as product development, marketing and training. Progress in achieving key targets has been good to date and the industry is on track to reach foreign exchange earnings of £2.25 billion and total employment of 120,000 by 1999. The programme provided for a mid-term review of its performance, and in July of this year the CSF Monitoring Committee made certain decisions in relation to it. These decisions will be followed up by the Tourism Monitoring Committee with refinements regarding the allocation of remaining funds.
Development of the tourism sector is supplemented by tourism related expenditure under other EU co-funded programmes such as those for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry — agri-tourism scheme — for Local Urban and Rural Development, INTERREG and the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, and Leader. The tourism sector also currently benefits from subsidised fixed interest loans, business expansion scheme, urban renewal tax relief, the pilot tax relief scheme for certain resort areas and other tax incentives.
Preliminary work is already under way and planning for the post-1999 period will begin in earnest from the end of this year. I understand from the Minister for Finance that the negotiations on the future financing of the European Union, including the Structural Funds, will not commence until the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference when the European Commission will submit a communication on the future financial framework of the Union as from 31 December 1999. This process and the continued improvement in performance, and strengthening, of the Irish tourism industry itself, will form critical starting off points for the tourism sector in future planned expansion.