Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

822 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received the Fitzpatrick report on regional tourism organisations; when it was submitted to him; and if and when it will be published. [24559/00]

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

In line with the commitment set out in the Government's Action Programme for the Millennium, a review of the Regional Tourism Authorities, RTAs, was carried out during 1999. The objective of the review was to ensure that RTAs would be positioned to make the optimum contribution to the realisation of national tourism objectives and targets set by Government, while taking into account regional priorities and customer focus.

In the context of the review, a report on the RTAs was commissioned by Bord Fáilte from Fitzpatrick Associates to assist their deliberations. In September last year I received from the chairman of Bord Fáilte a copy of the Fitzpatrick's report, together with the board's opinions on it's main recommendations. Discussions between officials from my Department and Bord Fáilte on issues arising from the review process were concluded earlier this year. Since then, Bord Fáilte has outlined a new vision for the future of the RTAs to each authority, setting out roles and performance indicators for them.

This is incorporated in annual performance contracts, between Bord Fáilte and each RTA, covering issues such as Bord Fáilte Éireann funding, visitor servicing, marketing and promotion, tourism development, and the co-ordination role of the RTAs.

In general, RTAs have welcomed this new contractual framework and, to date, all the RTAs have signed up to, or agreed to sign up to, the contract. I am confident that this new framework, which marks a major advance in the regional administrative structure, will give increased clarity and focus to the work of the RTAs, enabling them to maximise their contribution to regional and national tourism performance.

The Fitzpatrick's report was one input, albeit a very important one, into the overall review process and as such I have no plans to formally publish the report. Copies of the report have, however, been made available to the Members of the Dáil Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation and I would refer any other interested parties to Bord Fáilte which commissioned the report.