Vol. 544 No. 1
73 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the grant made available by his Department to the tourist victim support service in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001; if he has received a request for increased financial support for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27951/01]
218 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on the benefits to the tourism industry of the tourist victim support service; the way in which his Department has assisted the service; his plans to increase support for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28118/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 218 together.
The tourist victim support service (TVSS) was established in 1994. It is based in Garda headquarters in Harcourt Street in offices provided by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is overseen by an advisory board which includes representatives of the organisation Victim Support, the TVSS full-time co-ordinator, Bord Fáilte, Dublin Tourism, Dublin Corporation, the Irish Hotels Federation, Aer Rianta, the Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation and other partners in the tourism sector. The service receives an annual grant of £15,000 from Bord Fáilte and not directly from my Department. I can confirm that TVSS forwarded an application for increased funding to me last August, which was duly forwarded for consideration to Bord Fáilte, which is currently in discussion with the TVSS.
The TVSS offers a service to tourists who are attacked, robbed or otherwise victimised while visiting Ireland. Over 3,000 cases have been referred to it since its establishment in 1994 and I welcome the gradual but steady reduction in the number of referrals since 1999. Larceny and theft from cars still account for the majority of the crimes against tourists. Violent attacks, although still occurring, are decreasing. I was particularly heartened to hear of the overwhelming support for Guido Nasi, who was attacked in Fairview Park two years ago and who returned to Ireland for a visit this year. This support shows that Irish people have a particular aversion to attacks against tourists, who are our guests, and are determined to make every effort to counter crime against tourists.
It is our duty to make our visitors feel welcome and safe in our country. The Government is playing a part in relation to general security issues and I am aware that a number of organisations, in addition to Bord Fáilte, also make contributions to the TVSS. A concerted effort to increase sponsorship is being made by the TVSS. I call on the many tourism enterprises who avail of or have access to the referral service to consider making a contribution to the funding of its activities.
(Mayo): Does the Minister agree that £15,000 for the material and emotional support the TVSS provides to assist people to overcome their trauma is a very small amount of money? The document which was presented to the Minister by the TVSS and is currently under discussion between the TVSS and Bord Fáilte categorically underlines the need for additional funding. Having met representatives of the TVSS, listened to a resume of its work and analysed its work at first hand, does the Minister accept that it is entitled to another £15,000 to £20,000? Will he do everything possible to encourage Bord Fáilte, which receives the bulk of its funding from the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, to make a gesture of additional financial support?
I will discuss it with Bord Fáilte. I consider £15,000, which Bord Fáilte provides, to be a reasonable amount, bearing in mind that the overall running cost of the TVSS is £41,000. The other contributors are Dublin Corporation, Aer Lingus, the Irish Hotels Federation, the Vintners' Federation of Ireland and Aer Rianta. The TVSS does an excellent job for a running cost of £41,000. This country has the lowest rate in Europe of crime against tourists. At a time when crime against tourists is decreasing, questions have to be asked. I will have a word with Bord Fáilte, but I think £15,000 is not a bad contribution, given the other expenses of Bord Fáilte and the overall running costs of the TVSS.
(Mayo): Has the Minister checked recently the figures for the number of attacks on tourists? Is he aware that there has recently been an upsurge in such attacks? On RTE recently, a representative of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism gave several instances of unprovoked attacks on tourists on the basis of their colour and in the wake of events on 11 September in the United States. Is the Minister aware that a French person of Japanese origin was recently beaten so badly in Dublin that she spent the remaining four days of her holiday locked in her hotel room? Is he aware that a coloured tourist was recently attacked in Tralee and had to spend several days in hospital? Unfortunately, the tribal racism of people who misrepresent the implications of the 11 September atrocity has led to an increase in attacks on tourists. Does the Minister think this should be addressed in the context of his discussions with the TVSS, from the point of view of justifying the sought increases in funds?
I am aware that there are attacks on tourists. The Deputy maintains that there is a racial element to such attacks. The majority of attacks in Ireland happen in Dublin. The country is a safe place for tourists to come and attacks on tourists are decreasing. I accept that the TVSS does an excellent job. This was evident during the 11 September crisis when, with the Dublin City Centre Business Association, the TVSS used part of St. Stephen's Green to attend to over 500 American visitors. I will have a word with Bord Fáilte, but it think the amount being allocated for this service is not small. The Deputy will be kept informed.
