Austin Deasy
Question:14 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on the negative vibes from continental tourists regarding refuse dispersed over town and country. [7052/00]
Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:28 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the president of the Irish Hotels Federation (details supplied) that litter and inadequate signposting were damaging to tourism; the plans, if any, he has to raise these issues with the relevant authorities in view of the potential damage to the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7018/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 28 together.
While ministerial responsibility for litter and signposting lies with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, I have consistently also drawn public attention to the fact that these two issues regularly feature at the top of the dissatisfaction category in Bord Fáilte's annual visitor attitude surveys.
The Litter Pollution Act is now being implemented in an increasingly proactive fashion by the local authorities. I welcome the fact also that the Minister has established a national anti-litter forum, on which Bord Fáilte and the Irish Hotels Federation are represented, and that the forum is expected to issue a report in the next month or so outlining strategies to combat litter. I trust that publication of the forum's report will result in widespread public debate on how best to resolve our litter problem.
Two pilot projects, one in Waterford and one in Tipperary, in the tourism and the environment pilot initiative which I launched under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999 are aimed specifically at developing models on how to effectively tackle the litter problem. These projects will be completed over the next few weeks and will bring fresh thinking to bear on this issue.
With regard to signposting, a Bord Fáilte survey of all overseas travellers during the period January to September 1999 still found that 10% considered poor signposting to be either an unsatisfactory aspect of an Irish holiday or an aspect in need of improvement.
Noticeable progress has been made in recent years by the National Roads Authority and local authorities in the quality and level of directional signposting. It is expected that continued priority will be given to improving our signposting provision as an integral part of the ongoing investment in our road system as envisaged under the new national development plan.
These efforts have been complemented over the past six years by a special £1.5 million tourist signposting programme, financed under the operational programme for tourism, implemented by Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development, in conjunction with the six regional tourism authorities, the Central Fisheries Board and local authorities. This expenditure has been earmarked specifically for tourist signposting for coastal and inland touring routes, including mountain and valley drives, urban tourist trails, river names, historic and commemorative plaques, heritage towns and tourist information. Implementation of the tourist signposting programme will conclude in autumn 2000 after completion of the residual tourist signposting works outstanding at the end of 1999.