Tom Hayes
Question:38 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to bring forward legislation to restructure the RTOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31440/03]
Written Answers. - Tourism Promotion.
The regional tourism authorities were established in 1964 by Bord Fáilte under the Tourist Traffic Acts to administer tourism at regional level. At present there are seven tourism regions, six of which are administered by regional tourism authorities, RTAs, and the seventh, the mid-west, by Shannon Development.
Bord Fáilte – now Fáilte Ireland – carried out a review of the RTAs in 1999. One of the key features to emerge from the review process was the introduction of a formal annual performance contract, between Fáilte Ireland and each RTA, covering such issues as funding, visitor servicing, marketing and promotion, tourism development, and co-ordination. These contracts set out the role and services to be provided by the RTAs and lay down indicators for measuring performance.
Following the recent restructuring of the State institutional arrangements for the delivery of tourism policy at national level, and on foot of the recommendations of the recently published report of the tourism policy review group, consideration is now being given to how best to establish a closer correlation between the identified core visitor servicing and development functions provided at regional level and the State financial support provided through Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Development.
Given the current configuration of the regional tourism authorities as companies limited by guarantee, my understanding is that legislation would not be necessary if the outcome of the work described in the previous paragraph suggests that some restructuring of RTAs is required. While the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has primary responsibility for the legislation governing Shannon Development, I understand, subject to confirmation from the Attorney General, that while legislation would be required to amend its geographical remit, legislation would not be required to effect a change in its tourism function only.