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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 1

Priority Questions. - Tourism Industry.

David Stanton

Question:

40 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to a study commissioned by the regional tourism authorities outlining the fragmentation of public sector responsibilities and support services for the tourism sector; his views on the report; the action he has taken or intends to take on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6696/01]

During a meeting last October the chairs and managers of the regional tourism authorities presented me with a paper in which they listed the public sector bodies involved in the tourism sector, outlined their roles and responsibilities and suggested a number of ways of improving co-operation between agencies in order to ensure optimum return from investment of public funds in tourism marketing and product development.

The multiplicity of bodies involved with tourism development and promotion carries the risk of duplication of effort and less efficient use of resources, particularly public resources. The best way of avoiding fragmentation is if all bodies involved with tourism development work towards the realisation of a common strategy, adopting a unified and clearly focused approach.

The tourism development strategy, which Bord Fáilte has recently published, is designed to provide a framework within which coherent decisions can be made by all funding bodies whose activities impact on tourism. In addition to a national strategic framework, the strategy identifies the importance of drawing up integrated plans for tourism zones to which all players can work.

Under new contractual arrangements entered into between Bord Fáilte and regional tourism authorities, the RTAs are to embark on a pro-active programme to co-ordinate all publicly funded tourism activities in their regions. This will ensure as far as possible that they contribute optimally to the achievement of national tourism objectives, and that local promotional materials accord with national and regional tourism strategies. In respect of rural tourism, following initial consumer-oriented research to define the concept properly, Bord Fáilte will establish a focus group, representative of a wide range of relevant interests to come up with agreed action points to which all can work.

Additional InformationIn the Western Development Commission area, a high-level steering group is being established to co-ordinate all relevant interests in the implementation of a common tourism strategy. I have asked Bord Fáilte to chair that group and the RTAs will be represented on it. Perhaps most importantly on the issue of co-ordination, in the context of the national development plan, my Department has continued to place enormous emphasis on the need to ensure that infrastructure spend by other Departments and nontourism agencies, supports tourism priorities.

Given that at least 32 main agencies and a multiplicity of sub-agencies are under the auspices of other Government Departments, has any contact been made between the Minister's Department and other Departments to help streamline and more efficiently use resources?

I agree with the Deputy that we need to streamline our resources. When I came to this Department three years ago, it was pointed out to me that £110 million was outside my remit; I have no control over it. Since then, Bord Fáilte and the regional tourism authorities have agreed new contractual arrangements and I am pleased with the way they have been handled. The new contracts mean the authorities have to submit new plans to Bord Fáilte so that unnecessary overlapping is eliminated. It was recently pointed out to me that the number of glossy brochures and other literature published by the various regions would fill 20 juggernauts, enough to stretch from O'Connell Street to the docks. I agree there is a need for co-ordination.

Have discussions taken place between officials from the Department and other Departments outside the Minister's remit, who nevertheless are involved, in order to streamline the area of tourism promotion? Will the RTAs be given authority to direct matters in their regions?

The RTAs will always direct matters, in accordance with the new contracts. I am delighted with the excellent job they are doing, for example in the markets.

The Western Development Commission has set an example by setting up a high level steering group to co-ordinate relevant interests there. It is the type of pilot scheme I welcome. Bord Fáilte will keep an eye on the regional tourism authorities under the new contract.

Has anything happened inter-departmentally?

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