Trevor Sargent
Question:2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the figures for Irish residents holidaying abroad in 2002 as compared to 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20404/03]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Foreign Travel.
It is estimated there were 2.7 million overseas visits by Irish residents for reason of holiday, leisure and recreation in 2002, with a total expenditure of more than €2,720 million. This compares with more than 2.4 million visits and expenditure of €2,205 million in 2001, representing increases of 12.7% in visits and 23.4% in expenditure.
With regard to Irish residents holidaying abroad, I have some figures from the Central Statistics Office. I appreciate that the Minister of State is trying to present the figures in the most upbeat way possible, but is it not the case that the CSO figures for the first quarter indicate that the number of Irish people travelling overseas has grown by 5.4% to 939,000 and that Irish tourists continue to spend more than inbound tourists –€749 million as compared to €722 million, respectively? That being so, in addition to the similar trend whereby Ireland slipped from ninth to 14th place in the Guardian-Observertravel awards on the basis of European destinations, and Dublin plummeted from 39th to 59th place as the most popular overseas city, does that not indicate a worrying trend in terms of Ireland being seen as a very high cost destination? Does it not also indicate that Irish people regard the high level of costs in Ireland as a reason for holidaying abroad? Does the Minister of State agree that this points to the need for the Government to take these figures very seriously and to take account of the fall in tourism figures for activities such as walking and hiking, which have declined, over the past ten years, from 322,000 to the current level of 241,000?
The Deputy is going beyond the scope of the original question.
The figures have to be articulated in full.
It is unfair to expect the Minister of State to be in a position to answer questions relating to the area of responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.
I do not expect all that much from the Minister of State. I simply wish to put the full figures on record. I can understand the Government's wish to be as upbeat as possible, but I believe we have a duty to see the full picture. Does the Minister of State consider it might be worth looking at the Scottish Assembly, where legislation is being introduced to facilitate greater access to its countryside.
The Deputy's original question was of a purely statistical nature. It is not appropriate to extend the supplementaries into policy areas.
I am dealing with statistics. I hope the Ceann Comhairle will agree that I have articulated several statistics in my questions.
I accept that, but the Deputy went on to refer to policy matters.
Not only did the Deputy quote a number of statistics, he also strayed into the next question. The question he put down referred to the number of visits abroad by Irish persons. The next question, which I will answer shortly, deals with the number of visitors coming to this country. Due to the fact that they are quite separate, they are being answered separately.
The figures I gave the Deputy are the last complete figures we have for 2002. He referred to figures for the second quarter of this year, which we have, indicating that, between April and June of this year, the number of Irish visits abroad was 1.323 million – an increase of 9.5% on the corresponding period last year. The number of Irish people travelling abroad on holidays is constantly growing, as is the amount of money being spent. From April to June, the net outflow was €18 million. Obviously, we are very conscious of the fact that people are travelling abroad. However, we are equally conscious of the fact that people are coming to visit this country, which I will deal with in the next question.
We will come to that on Question No. 3.
I was responding to Deputy Sargent's questions.
It would be unfair to Deputy Wall to deal with the subject matter of his questions until we reach them. I must point out again that Deputy Sargent's question was of a purely statistical nature.
Bí cinnte go gcloífeadh leis sin, ach ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an bPríomh-Aoire agus Aire Stáit. Má chualas i gceart í, dúirt sí gur chuaigh 2.7 milliún duine thar lear ar chuairt an bhlian seo caite. Measaim go bhfuil sé sin fíor. An bhféadfadh sí a rá an bhfuil daoine san áireamh san 2.7 milliún a chuaigh thar lear ar níos mó ná cuairt amháin? Chuaigh 2.7 milliún thar lear, agus b'fhéidir gur chuaigh cuid acu ar níos mó ná cuairt amháin. An bhféadfadh an tAire é sin a rá?
An rud a dúirt mé ná go raibh an líon sin cuairteanna ann. Ní hionann é sin agus a rá gurbh é sin líon na ndaoine. B'fhéidir go raibh an Teachta agus mé féin laistigh de sin nó daoine eile a chuaigh thar lear níos mó ná uair amháin ins an bhliain. Total overseas visits were 4,634,000. Laistigh de sin, 2.7 million represented holiday and leisure, visits to friends and relatives were 1,099,000, business visits were 559,000 and there were 270,000 other visits. Laistigh de na figiúirí ar fad, ní hé an líon daoine ach an méid cúirteanna atá i gceist.
Cén sórt figiúirí iad sin?
Sin líon iomlán na ndaoine a chuaigh thar lear anuraidh. Sin don bhliain iomlán 2002.
Does the Minister of State have statistics as to the number of Irish people who have never travelled abroad and Irish people who have never had a passport?
I have no such figures and I am not sure they are available. I believe the statistics which are compiled relate to those who go abroad, as opposed to those who do not.