Vol. 568 No. 3
3 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the details of the strategy being pursued by his Department to give expression to the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16242/03]
My Department, in formulating it's first statement of strategy, 2003 to 2005, explicitly recognised the need for more balanced, sustainable regional economic and social development in the context of the national spatial strategy, NSS, as one of the environmental factors impacting on the overall direction of its policy objectives. My Department's current tourism product policy closely mirrors the approach of the NSS. It anticipated much of the thrust of the strategy as the tourism division of my Department was represented on the interdepartmental committee which oversaw the work of the NSS.
The NSS makes the point that tourism is characterised by the fact that consumption takes place where the service is provided. Tourism activity is focused, in some cases, on areas with an otherwise weak economic base. As a result it can have a positive influence on regional development and its potential into the future. The NSS distinguishes between different parts of the country in terms of their current level of tourism development.
The approach to tourism set out in the NSS is reflected in the tourism product development sub-measures of the national development plan's regional operational programmes. These sub-measures will support the development of up to five major attractors in identified catchment areas; support the development of a number of clusters based on existing attractions and facilities; further develop the range and quality of niche product, particularly in the least developed tourism areas; and provide some support for the better management of the relationship between tourism and the environment in the established tourism areas.
My Department is also represented on the new steering group established to oversee implementation of the strategy. We will in this context, with various other Departments, be examining policies and programmes over the next few months to see if there are issues in those programmes which need to be considered further in light of the NSS. Should issues be identified they will be discussed with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with a view to seeing what action is necessary.
In the meantime the various expenditure reviews planned by my Department in the context of its 2003 to 2005 programme, which includes a review of the local authority swimming pool programme, will take account of the NSS. The agencies under the aegis of my Department will continue to consult as appropriate with the relevant local authorities in relation to their own programmes.
I thank the Minister for his reply and note what he says. However, I am still concerned regarding the national spatial strategy launched a few months ago. While I welcomed the strategy, it is unfortunate that, since its launch, there has been no specific Government support for it. In effect, the plan was conceived, the strategy was born, but the parents – in this case, the Government – have deserted the new-born strategy – it is now an orphan.
The Minister told the House that discussions are under way here and there. However, my question was specific and I would like to get a specific answer to it. Have specific guidelines been developed by the Minister and his Department to ensure that policies are tailored to give support to the national spatial strategy? For example, have guidelines or policies been developed for circulation to local authorities to encourage them to give precedence to the strategy? Has the Government as a whole discussed or set in train any coherent policy to underpin the strategy?
It is not true to state that the national spatial strategy, which the Government spent considerable time formulating, is an orphan. However, it should be realised that the targets set out in the strategy are extremely ambitious and that the plan is to roll out over 20 years, though that does not mean that there has been any lack of effort by the Government in recent times in regard to the strategy.
My Department is represented on the interdepartmental committee which oversaw the work on the national spatial strategy. It is also represented on the new interdepartmental national spatial strategy implementation group. If proof positive is required by Deputy McHugh that the national spatial strategy is not an orphan, the implementation group met in recent weeks and decided that relevant Departments, including my own, would examine their policies and programmes over the next few months to discover whether there are issues in those programmes which need to be considered further in respect of the strategy. Any issues identified will be discussed with the lead Department – the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government – with a view to seeing what action is necessary.
The current tourism product policy of my Department closely mirrors the approach of the national spatial strategy and anticipated much of the thrust of that strategy.
I welcome the fact that the Minister has confirmed that the review group is doing some work. I realise that the national spatial strategy and its terms are ambitious and I hope it works. If it does not, this country will go down the Swanee and balanced regional development, which everybody likes to talk about, will never happen. I welcome the Minister's statement that some work is being done to try to give substance to the strategy.
