Billy Timmins
Question:371 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will supply a copy of the report he requested Bord Fáilte to commission. [25464/99]
Written Answers. - Bord Fáilte Report.
I understand that the document referred to by the Deputy is the one recently prepared for Bord Fáilte by Fitzpatrick Associates as part of a review of the regional tourism authorities. These authorities – RTAs – were established by Bord Fáilte, under the Tourist Traffic Acts, for the promotion and development of tourism on a regional basis.
The objective is to review the role and operations of the RTAs and recommend how they can optimally contribute to the achievement of national tourism objectives and targets set by the Government in line with Bord Fáilte's strategic plan, while taking into account regional priorities and customer focus.
The chairman of Bord Fáilte has forwarded to me a copy of their consultant's report together with the board's own views, for my consideration. This consideration will also take into account the implications, or the RTAs, of the tourism provisions in the recently published national development plan, and proposals for new all-island institutional structures for international tourism marketing under the Good Friday Agreement.
The work commissioned by Bord Fáilte from the consultants forms a review process which is ongoing and now nearing completion. The issue of the wider circulation of their consultant's document would of course be a matter in the first instance for Bord Fáilte.