Vol. 547 No. 1
53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the proposals to bring Bord Fáilte and CERT together to form a new national agency for tourism development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2536/02]
Last November the Government approved the creation of a new national tourism development authority whose remit is to include the promotion of training, human resource and marketing skills development in the tourism industry and other functions currently carried out by Bord Fáilte and CERT. The Government has also approved the drafting of a Bill to provide the statutory basis for the new authority.
Meanwhile, I have established an implementation group, chaired by John Travers, outgoing chief executive of Forfás, and including the chairpersons and chief executive officers of Bord Fáilte and CERT. The intention is that the group, which has already begun its deliberations, will report back to me by the end of March with a view to the new body being operational in 2003.
