Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Transport Operational Programme.

Bernard Allen

Question:

337 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the interaction, if any, his Department has had with the administrators of the Cohesion Fund and infrastructural operation programmes to bring about a comprehensive tourism strategy, particularly in relation to environmental issues and environmental initiatives. [17701/97]

Bernard Allen

Question:

339 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the discussions, if any, his Department has had using the transport operational programme in order to introduce a better system for identifying and prioritising key tourism roads that need development. [17703/97]

Bernard Allen

Question:

340 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the discussions, if any, he has had with other Departments about the public investment in environmental services and other key infrastructure in the most popular resorts; and if he has had discussions in relation to the use of cohesion funding and environmental services operational programmes. [17704/97]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 339 and 340 together.

As I am sure the Deputy is aware that primary responsibility for the administration of the Cohesion Funds, the Operational Programme for Transport and the Operational Programme for Environmental Services rests with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. Infrastructural investment under these programmes reflect Government and EU priorities in both the transport and environmental services areas and are aimed at supporting all sectors of the economy including tourism.

In 1996 the monitoring committee for the operational programme for tourism asked its independent external evaluator, in separate exercises, to examine the links between investment under the tourism operational programme and infrastructural investment under the transport operational programme and the environmental services operational programme. In both cases the external evaluator reported that there was overall coherence and co-ordination between the operational programmes. In the case of transport, the external evaluator concluded that support for Irish tourism under the operational programme for transport was generally satisfactory and in the case of environmental services, the overall conclusion was that investments were being directed in a way which enhanced and protected the tourist environment.

These external evaluator reports were also forwarded to monitoring committees for the transport and environmental services operational programmes and to the relevant consultants engaged to undertake the mid-term evaluations of those operational programmes.

In furtherance of co-ordination in these areas, my Department is represented on the monitoring committees of these operational programmes. Similarly, a representative of the Department of the Environment and Local Government attends the monitoring committee for the tourism operational programme.

Specifically in relation to the identification and prioritisation of key tourism roads, I take it that the Deputy is referring to the non-national roads programme under the transport operational programme. In this regard I understand that the Department of the Environment and Local Government has instructed local authorities to consult with Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development to ensure that priority non-national tourism roads are identified and included in submissions for assistance made to the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

Bernard Allen

Question:

338 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the steps, if any, his Department has taken to make available sufficient resources in order to solve problems of congestion during the peak season at a number of major resort areas, problems which could be solved through management as much as through capital spending. [17702/97]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

Arising from concern about the possible impact of increasing tourist numbers and consequent congestion in certain tourist locations in Ireland and conscious of a recommendation in the mid-term evaluation of the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, the monitoring committee for the OP decided at its meeting in May 1997 that the external evaluator for the programme should commence a research phase of a possible new tourism and environment initiative. The purpose of the research was to assist in the formulation of an appropriate policy response and co-ordination mechanism whereby the development of Irish tourism in an environmentally sustainable manner can be ensured for the future; and to develop a framework for the implementation of an initiative on a pilot basis to include recommendations on the appropriate administrative mechanisms and the type of activities which might be funded.

In July 1997 the monitoring committee for the Community Support Framework for Ireland, in the context of its review of all CSF operational programmes and recognising the importance of this issue, decided that 3 MECU European Regional Development Fund funding should be earmarked from within the Tourism Operational Programme to address on a pilot basis congestion issues in areas of high tourist demand.

At its meeting this month, the Tourism OP monitoring committee will consider the research from its external evaluator and decide how, in light of the CSF monitoring committee decision, the tourism and the environment pilot project might proceed.