Vol. 706 No. 1
71 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if she will liaise with public service bodies to ensure that those interfacing with tourists will make facilities and services available to tourists at competitive prices in view of the downturn in the tourism industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13937/10]
The tourism renewal group emphasised that it is essential to get costs, competitiveness and pricing right in order to compete effectively in tourism. I am glad to see many State bodies that provide services to tourists are taking this advice on board in the initiatives they are taking and in their pricing policy for 2010. For example, despite challenging financial circumstances, the Office of Public Works has announced that most seasonal OPW sites will open earlier in 2010 to coincide with Easter and that admission prices have been held at 2009 levels.
The OPW is striving to maintain the balance between conservation, preservation and tourism needs and budgetary realities but nonetheless it has secured an extension of the season at a number of important regional sites. I have no doubt my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, is instrumental in seeing to that. The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism is working with the OPW to maximise the tourism potential of its existing portfolio of tourism sites. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, is linked to the two Departments as it is a critical link.
In keeping with the budget announcement on discounted travel to senior citizens, Fáilte Ireland, in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, has developed a free rail travel scheme, the golden trekker, to boost overseas visitor numbers among a strong market segment for Irish tourism. The scheme, which was launched on 16 March, provides for free mainline, commuter and DART rail tickets to all tourists to Ireland aged 66 and over and there is no restriction on nationality or country of residence. We should also acknowledge that admission to the national collections at our national cultural institutions remains free of charge, which is not the norm in many European countries.
Indeed, in 2009 the number of visitors to our cultural institutions exceeded 3 million, representing an increase on the 2008 figures. Furthermore, access to the digitised on-line 1911 census, hosted by the National Archives and which has proved so popular with the overseas diaspora and will hopefully provide a boost to genealogical tourism, is free of charge. In addition, the Department's own website, www.irishgenealogy.com which is making church records of births, marriages and deaths available on-line is also free.
Fáilte Ireland provides free information to tourists through its various websites and a regional network of tourist information offices, visitor information points, and kiosks. This includes local and national information on things to see and do, what is on and where, route planning, dining and information on accommodation. The new quarterly "Discover Ireland" publications, the festivals and events guide and the golf guide are available to tourists free of charge. The spring edition of "Discover Ireland" includes a range of discounted offers in the accommodation, visitor attractions, golf courses and food areas. A series of regional guides covering things to do and see is currently being produced and will be available free of charge through the tourist office network. A series of local town maps is also available free of charge to tourist office visitors.
Fáilte Ireland is also working with tourism businesses generally in 2010 to help them control their costs and make them more competitive. During 2009, they provided training and business supports directly to almost 3,000 individual tourism businesses and, in 2010, will be investing over €11 million in the form of direct supports and advice for tourism enterprises. Business supports are aimed at assisting key tourism businesses to increase their international customer base, better manage their cost base, improve overall performance and sustain employment levels.
That all sounds great. I welcome the fact the Minister recognised the need for interaction between Departments and the various bodies responsible for tourism because it is a very fragmented industry in every sense, in terms of the industry itself and the bodies which look after it. I could stay here all day and discuss the various areas in which other bodies are impinging on our efforts to attract tourists. Today I received an e-mail from somebody who said he or she met an Indian tour operator who reported the difficulties it was having in getting visas for tourists coming to this country from India and that it had almost given up trying to send visitors to Ireland because it was so difficult. It is costly and complex; there is no doubt about it. I said the other day that by the time one has answered all the questions to which answers are required by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, one has lost the will to live, much less to travel.
Those are the kinds of things about which any Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism must be very concerned, even if it is not under his or her direct remit. I hope the Minister will play a role in interacting with the other bodies. One issue is visas, another is airport handling charges. There is a real need for the Dublin Airport Authority to realise it must attract airlines and customers, something which one does not do by putting up prices. If our airports are not efficient there will be no tourists coming into the country. The DAA revised its charges recently as part of its preparations for T2. A chauffeur company contacted me to say it is being charged €1,000 per year to park one car when it comes to collect tourists. It should be the other way around. It is providing a service to the airport. There has to be recognition across all bodies that they have to keep prices down.
I would like to think I had something to do with encouraging the Minister to ensure prices did not go up this year. The OPW was the only provider to increase prices last year.
The agency does a great job and I do not wish to be critical of its main function, which is conservation and preservation. It is not a commercial entity and its officials do not see it as their function to be part of the national recovery drive, to attract visitors and provide a service to the public. It is a sterile undertaking to refurbish buildings and not use them or make them accessible. The fact that the OPW is not allowed to keep the income it generates from tourism means it has no incentive to encourage visitors. Will the Minister consider — perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, has a view on this — tendering for the operation of OPW sites and historic buildings in order that the upkeep remains a matter for the OPW and the operation of the sites and the provision of services, guides and so on becomes a commercial undertaking to encourage tour operators? That would result in a different attitude and greater usage. An ongoing complaint from tour operators is that the historic sites make life more difficult for them. Will the Minister consider that?
The Deputy raised three important issues. With regard to visas, people can travel from a vast number of countries without needing a visa but countries such as India and China have the potential to send many visitors to Ireland. When people travel from those countries, they tend to spend a great deal of time in the country and a great deal of money, particularly in the regions, because if they travel this far, they want to see the country. I have written to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform about the visa issue because it must be examined from the point of view of visitors who may have no connection to the country entering the State and, in particular, from the point of view of issuing North-South joint visas, which was raised in the House this week. I have addressed this because it is important. The Taoiseach when addressing the Irish Hotels Federation conference recently highlighted this issue and he said he would take an interest in it. The former Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, visited China and India to promote the idea of students travelling to Ireland to be educated. This could result in their families and so on coming to Ireland to visit them. I am following up on this issue.
The second issue raised by the Deputy related to the Dublin Airport Authority. Airlines are critical to the success of the tourism industry. Aer Lingus has requested a meeting and I look forward to meeting its representatives shortly. I am happy to discuss all aspects of their business that impact on tourism. There are still 100 flights a week between Ireland the US but capacity fell last summer and again during the winter. However, the US economy has experienced a slight upturn, as has the Canadian economy. There is great potential for additional flights and I look forward to marketing this further.
On the OPW issue, I concur with the Deputy that its officials do great work. However, as Deputy Mansergh just said to me, it is difficult to be free and commercial. Free access is provided to these wonderful facilities. I have always found the guides to be tremendous and the flexibility in opening times serves the tourism industry well. Wearing my previous hat, I had hoped the public service generally and the OPW sites would be used for the graduate placement scheme. There would be great scope for young graduates to work on OPW sites this summer. They could bring great added value as they are well educated and trained. Hopefully, following the agreement at the public service pay talks, this might be addressed and this could give an added boost to the good work done by the OPW.
I did not suggest access to the sites should be free. They should be commercial and those running them should not behave like hospital administrators when they run out of money by putting up prices and closing wards. That is what the OPW did when its budgets were cut. If the operation of the sites was tendered, the OPW could keep the money and it would have a genuine incentive to encourage visitors.
Could the over 66 free travel scheme be extended to include all CIE services, for example, because reports have highlighted that visitors in this age cohort stay longer and spend more money? They could be encouraged to travel free, perhaps initially at off peak times, when it would not cost anything.
The lack of integrated ticketing is annoying for many visitors, apart from the cost of tickets. I appreciate this is not the responsibility of the Minister's Department but it is an important factor in encouraging tourists to spend time, for example, in Dublin.
Free train services for tourists aged over 66 have been made available by CIE just for this year but hopefully, that will continue next year. It was introduced on the basis that trains with significant capacity are running anyway but that might not necessarily always be true, for example, of bus services.
I referred to off peak times.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs pays CIE and, therefore, somebody must pay for the scheme somewhere along the way. I suspect the train scheme will be hugely successful. Let us see how it goes and reflect on its potential.
With regard to integrated ticketing — again I am wearing my previous hat — the new PPS card, which will be introduced later this year, will have a photograph, signature, etc. on it and it will be possible to use it for integrated ticketing. That is the step which will enable such ticketing to take place. That is a good example of interaction between various Departments. Once it is in place, we will expand the scheme.
I am tempted to say, "At long last", but it will be welcome.
The Minister stated airlines contribute to the success in attracting tourists. Today is a black day for Ryanair services at Shannon Airport because this is the final day of the five-year contract Ryanair had with the airport authority. The company brought in more than 2 million passengers a year during the initial years of the contract, although that number had reduced to 1 million a year. As a result, only a fraction of the numbers who used to travel to the west will pass through the airport. Does the Minister realise that five years ago 30 destinations were served by Shannon Airport whereas today only ten destinations are served? Will she bring together the main tourism interests in the region, in particular, the Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development, to redouble their efforts to fill the void left by Ryanair? From tomorrow onwards, the departure halls in the airport will be empty unless the Government does something.
The Shannon Airport catchment area economic and tourism development plan is designed to support the region. A preclearance facility has been approved at the airport and it can be extended to cater for other airlines. British Airways and United Airlines flights out of London stop at the airport to avail of the facility.
I refer to short haul services.
This new initiative might facilitate private jet users and so on to travel to Ireland and stay. It has great potential. I have received a request for a meeting from Shannon Development and I am happy to meet its representatives to discuss the various issues.
Will the Minister consider bringing together the various tourism interests in the region? This is serious issue and I do not raise it for the sake of it. The airport is almost empty every day after 11 a.m. It is facing a bleak future and I ask the Minister to seriously examine tourism in the west, particularly in the context of short haul routes. Only one short haul route with a limited service will be operated by Ryanair from tomorrow out of the airport and that will have a devastating effect on tourism operators in the region.
I am sure the implementation of the plan will help in some regards but I am happy to sit down with the representatives of Shannon Development to discuss the potential for the area.
72 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism her proposals to utilise culture as a way of creating employment, enhancing Ireland’s image abroad and encouraging development and interest in the arts, sporting and recreative sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13997/10]
The importance and impact of culture is an essential element of our identity, profile, confidence and place in the world. I am convinced, based on the information available to me on those employed and engaged in the wider arts and culture sphere, that there is tremendous potential for enhanced opportunities to transform this landscape into the future.
This optimism is driven and borne out by recent reports examining the importance of the arts, culture and creative sectors for the economy. A DKM report produced last year stated that in the first quarter of 2009 employment in the arts and culture sector stood at 22,400, not including the indirect and induced employment multipliers. DKM also estimated that the direct value added of the arts, culture and creative sectors combined in 2008 was €3.1 billion or 2% of total GNP. Those are not just statistics. They represent real, imaginative, enthusiastic and committed people all over the country deeply involved in their chosen artistic or cultural endeavour. All of those contribute to the fabric of our cultural and social lives and make a difference in so doing. It is vital that they continue to be supported and enabled to make a living from their talents. We must value these attributes both from an economic, cultural and social point of view.
On the economic front, over the past year and particularly arising from the global Irish economic forum held in Farmleigh, culture has come into renewed focus as a unique national asset and our greatest competitive advantage as a "door opener" in developing important economic and tourism links. Culture Ireland will continue to ensure the ongoing promotion of Irish artists worldwide with the aim of generating goodwill and influence for Ireland and highlighting the strength of Irish culture and creativity. In working in close partnership with other State agencies, including the Irish Film Board, Tourism Ireland and the IDA, Culture Ireland will focus on the opportunities to use our culture to bring about positive results in tourism and trade initiatives. The recent appointment of Ireland's first cultural ambassador will enhance further the benefits of our cultural offering.
In the context of my Department's role as the parent ministry for a number of agencies and institutions in the tourism and culture sectors, the cultural tourism initiative was launched in February 2009 to develop the exciting potential of cultural tourism, by focusing on increasing the extent to which the organisations under the aegis of my Department would combine their expertise and resources in this area.
The cultural tourism initiative also facilitated closer co-operation between the State tourism agencies and the Irish Film Board to exploit the tourism opportunities presented by film and television production in Ireland. The implementation and realisation of those and other initiatives are set to streamline the activities of those sectors and so help to highlight and harness the employment potential of the many attractions throughout the State. In 2009, visitor numbers to the cultural institutions supported by my Department increased by 1% to 3.08 million. The film and audiovisual sectors have consistently proven to be employment generating and profile raising areas of the cultural landscape. The Irish audio content production sector review published in December 2008 demonstrated the employment of more than 7,000 individuals involved in more than 600 production companies, service providers and post-production companies. There also exists a substantial freelance pool of highly creative, committed and flexible individuals and entities.
For 2007, the audiovisual content production sector was valued at €557.3 million. In 2008, the Irish Film Board production funding of €16.7 million for feature film, TV and animation helped generate production activity worth a total of €128.8 million. That was an increase of 61.4% on 2007 figures. Due to the consistent, high quality standards of work, connections and professionalism in the business and through the support of the Irish Film Board new projects continue to come on-stream. The now continuous flow of prestigious international awards for Irish film-makers is crucial to bringing further business here. The recent decision to locate a new production of "Camelot" at Ardmore Studios is further testament to this confidence and commitment which will generate and consolidate the engagement of those crews whose previous experiences will again be called upon.
I thank the Minister for her long and comprehensive reply.
It anticipates the need for supplementaries.
We will not ask as many supplementary questions but we will try to be helpful with them as well, a Cheann Comhairle.
It is important to recognise, as the Minister does in her reply, that in particular at times of economic doubt, which is the case at present, a greater responsibility falls on a country's culture and everything associated with it to enhance the image of the country, its employment potential and public interest, and to revive public confidence in the national institutions. What does the Minister intend to do specifically under each of the headings to which she referred? I am conscious of the report to which she referred setting out the employment potential and existing employment in the general area of arts and culture. Does she have a specific plan to identify each of the headings with a view to expanding, interacting and maximising the potential in all of those areas?
My general policy on the arts, culture and the creative industry is to promote and strengthen it, increase participation and to see what added value we can get for the economy. It would be easy at times such as this to look at all aspects of society from an economic perspective but I firmly believe that arts and culture, being a part of what we are, are of value in their own right. It is an added advantage that we are able to use it as a marketing tool for this country to attract people to come here and to be able to add, for example, not only to cultural tourism, but also to our film industry. I would be more than happy to do whatever it takes to strengthen and promote those sectors and industries. I will give it all my energy and all my interest.
Closer integration and co-operation between the various sectors is critical. Reference was made to that previously. Culture and arts cannot stand alone separate from tourism. The integration of those areas, especially in the regions, has significant potential. The same could be said of sport. We have seen the advances that have been made in golf tourism. There is more potential in that regard. The opening of the convention centre this year has great potential for business tourism. That is an area in which I foresee new opportunities attracting people. Some of the first conferences to be held there are in the medical sector and they tend to be big spenders.
Festivals have done significant work for communities. They are important for the domestic market, which is also important. The innovation that has been adopted by local communities around the country in creating festivals, which not only improve the spirit of their local areas but which attract people to them, has been admirable in recent years. My plan for each of the different sectors is to promote, support, encourage and increase participation, and to do it for its own sake and also for the purposes of strengthening that industry for the economy.
I was pleased to hear the Minister refer to sport because I felt it was being ever so slightly neglected within the portfolio. The question relates to culture and the impact it might have in terms of developing an interest in sport. It is clear that there is a significant cultural impact in terms of sport in this country not alone with our traditional sports, but on a wider scale. This country is recognised as a great sporting country. We punch well above our weight in many sports. That has significant potential not only for the economy, but in terms of our profile aboard as a sporting country.
To return to culture, I was pleased to hear the Minister say it is not just about economics, that we have to look at the societal aspect of culture as well, which is clearly of great importance. In an article by Mr. Fintan O'Toole, which the Minister might have read during the week, he referred to the west. I put it to the Minister that there is a job of work to be done. He said that at the moment the west is not translating its magnetic cultural image into the creation of such a region. He considers the impact of creativity. He indicates that in London one job in seven is in the creative sector. In New England in the United States, one job in 25 is in the creative sector while in the west it is one in 33. Purely from the point of view of the economy, the message is that there is significant potential in terms of opportunities for the creation of more jobs. I do not say that is the only purpose of it. There is the intrinsic value of culture and of the merit of the west as an example in its own right. It is one that has an opportunity that can be developed and promoted.
In his article Mr. Fintan O'Toole recognised that I am the Minister for everything that is important to us. He is probably right in that. What Deputy Upton said about sport is correct. My answer was so long that I did not read it all. Thomond Park, Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium, which will open on 14 May, are three major centres of sport that have the potential to attract a significant number of visitors to the country. I accept that we have not fully capitalised on the employment potential but recent successes in the creative industry, for example, with the Oscars, are drawing attention to Ireland. Successes include the Irish Film Board's attracting of "The Tudors" and "Camelot" to Ireland.
The appointment of Gabriel Byrne as cultural ambassador is another case in point. All these examples serve to market Ireland and challenge us to respond. They challenge the west and every other part of the country to respond to the marketing initiative and the good press we receive. They challenge us to offer good value, which is now available in Ireland, to ensure there is good quality and high standards and to maintain them at this difficult time for the sector. The potential is great and I will be working on the means by which we capitalise on it with all the relevant groups.
73 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the details of the proposed establishment of the national opera company; when it will be fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13981/10]
77 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if she will provide further information on the foundation of the Irish National Opera company; the outcome for the existing opera companies here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14015/10]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 77 together.
The foundation of Irish National Opera was announced recently and an interim board, chaired by Mr. Ray Bates, former director of the National Lottery was appointed. The Irish National Opera will be based in Dublin. It will stage opera on all scales in the capital and throughout the country. The company will also encourage the development of opera through the provision of opportunities for emerging Irish talent and with education and outreach programmes that will encourage more people to engage with and attend opera performances.
The new company will replace the two State-funded companies, Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company, which between them cover much of the range of artistic work expected from a national opera company. At present, Opera Ireland produces main-scale opera in Dublin, while Opera Theatre Company produces smaller-scale opera, both in Dublin and throughout the State, in addition to operating outreach and education programmes. The chairs of both companies, Mr. Thomas Lynch and Ms Virginia Kerr, have been appointed to the interim board.
The process of working towards the formation of a new Irish national opera company has been a collaborative one involving the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Arts Council, Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company. My officials, together with the Arts Council, have met the new chairman already. The high-level goals of the new company have been agreed.
It is envisaged that the Irish National Opera will officially commence operation in the coming weeks. Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company will continue their work throughout 2010, as agreed with the Arts Council, because both companies have been funded by the Arts Council to continue with their agreed respective artistic outputs for all of 2010.
In addition to the chairman Mr. Ray Bates, Ms Virginia Kerr and Mr Thomas Lynch, the interim board of Irish National Opera includes Sir Brian McMaster, chairman of the National Opera Studio in the United Kingdom and former managing director at the Welsh National Opera. To assist in transitional arrangements, the chief executives of Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company, Mr. Niall Doyle and Ms Kirsty Harris, respectively, have been appointed to the interim board for three months.
At present, there are three opera companies in the State that receive annual funding from the Arts Council. These are Opera Ireland and Opera Theatre Company, which I have dealt with, and Wexford Festival Opera. Wexford Festival Opera has a distinct niche and a highly successful brand both nationally and internationally and is a very successful tourism generator for Wexford. It is important that this brand be maintained in its present form and consequently there are no plans to change its funding or institutional arrangements. That has also been agreed with the Arts Council.
Nothing will happen before next month. What is planned for the overall body? There is general welcome for a new national opera company. Will the company be a cultural institution? Will it be funded directly by the Department rather than the Arts Council, which funds the existing companies? What will be the new company's terms of reference? Will the debt of Opera Ireland be cleared before the setting up of the new company? No new company wants to be set up with a debt hanging over it.
Funding for 2011 will have to be agreed in the Estimates. We must await the outcome. The high-level objectives have been agreed with Opera Ireland, the Opera Theatre Company and the Arts Council. These have already been set out and include producing opera at all scales, promoting and encouraging the experience of opera productions among a wider audience, encouraging the development of the opera industry, establishing an innovative and diverse education and outreach programme and developing opera as an art form through the commissioning and presentation of new work.
With regard to debts, they will need to be managed and examined. The new company is to have its inaugural meeting after Easter.
Will it be a cultural institution?
I cannot answer that as yet.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
