Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.

Billy Timmins

Question:

364 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if any funding is available from his Department for the signposting of tourist or historic sites; the way this can be drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15643/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr McDaid)

My Department does not provide direct grant aid for tourism product development. Bord Fáilte Éireann was the implementing body for such schemes under the Tourism Operational Programme 1994-1999, with decisions on grant approval being made by an independent product management board. A similar arrangement will be in place, for the current national development plan, under which I was able to obtain a commitment of £100 million for a tourism product development.

The new tourism product investment scheme will be administered via the tourism measures of the regional operational programmes. The overall objective of the scheme is to develop the tourism product in a sustainable way that widens the spatial spread of tourism, diverts pressure from highly developed areas and increases the under-performing regions' share of overseas tourism revenue.

There is a general consensus that the focus of public investment in tourism projects must be to enhance the potential of less-developed tourism areas by supporting the development of significant attractions or clusters of attractions in such areas and also in the better management of the relationship between tourism and the environment in established tourism areas. The issue of funding for signposting will be considered in the context of these themes. The National Roads Authority, the local authorities and Dúchas also have important roles to play in this area.

Detailed guidelines for project promoters on the new scheme for product development have been drafted by Bord Fáilte, in consultation with my Department. Meanwhile, the scheme is still being examined under the State aids rules by DG Competition of the European Commission, to whom the scheme has been formally notified as required by the relevant regulation.

Question No. 365 answered with Question No. 360.