Vol. 544 No. 1
98 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the role and responsibility of his Department regarding the heritage towns; his views on the future of the heritage town programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28040/01]
My Department, as published in its statement of strategy, has responsibility for formulation, development and evaluation of policy for the tourism sector as regards training, human resource policy, tourism marketing and promotion, tourism structures, tourism product development and North-South co-operation in tourism matters. Implementation of these policies is, however, a matter for the tourism agencies under the aegis of the Department – Bord Fáilte, CERT, Shannon Development and Tourism Ireland Limited.
The Department's strategy for tourist product development is clearly set out in the national development plan and in the tourism measure within the regional operational programme complements. It is based on a longer term strategy where the focus for future capital grant investment will be on giving some of the less developed tourism areas their opportunity to produce new proposals that will allow them evolve into new tourism growth centres.
Responsibility for operational, day-to-day matters in relation to tourism product, including the heritage town programme, is a matter for Bord Fáilte Éireann. I should add that the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands also has responsibilities in relation to preservation and presentation of heritage generally.
Question No. 99 answered with Question No. 78.
