Items Nos. 4 and 5 are being discussed together. Senator McDonald is in possession.
White Paper on Tourism Policy: Motion (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:
That Seanad Éireann takes note of the White Paper on Tourism Policy.
—(Senator Dooge).
I do not think Senator McDonald is available. I will make a few brief comments. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Small Businesses I am pleased to participate in the debate on tourism, catering and leisure and on the White Paper on Tourism Policy, produced by the Minister last September. In speaking about this industry we should realise that it is the third biggest industry in the country, preceded by manufacturing industry and agriculture. Up to now I must say it has been poorly treated in comparison with the other two by successive Governments in relation to the finance made available, the amount of staff allocation, etc. However, at this point I believe there is now a firm commitment and a recognition of the vast potential tourism, if developed properly, can have for our economy.
With regard to the White Paper, I have noted that in the introduction to it the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism, Deputy John Bruton, said that this is the first time a Government in Ireland have published a White Paper on Tourism. He said that this was important in itself because from now on tourism would be a central part of Government policy making. This was, of course, one of the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee, that a White Paper should be produced and that tourism should be elevated to a special plane in Government priorities. Ireland is fortunate in that a high percentage of the tourist industry is centred around areas which are not very suited to intensive industrial or agricultural development. Therefore, tourism is of major benefit to regional policy.
The successful operation of tourism requires a co-ordinated policy in areas such as accommodation, catering, access transport, adequate car hire facilities, wet weather facilities, road sign posts, natural amenities, scenery and pollution control. The inspectoral role for accommodation is exercised by Bord Fáilte for camping and caravan parks and for the physical and natural environment generally by the local authorities. There is no known standard or inspectoral role carried out by anyone for access transport, the routes which most of the customers must use.
Seasonality is a major problem for Irish tourism. Some 56 per cent of our visitors arrive in the four months from June to September, inclusive, 35 per cent arrive during the peak months of July to August and 21 per cent arrive during the shoulder months of June and September. This visitor pattern results in many tourist businesses operating at well below capacity for most of the year or indeed not operating at all. Our wide seasonal fluctuations are a negative influence on business investment in tourism. There is potential to spread the season, where achievements depend on careful planning and marketing with full co-operation between all tourism interests, including promotion, access and accommodation.
Based on international tourism comparisons the committee recommend the following: a system of petrol coupons for tourists from overseas as in Italy; a scheme of holiday vouchers in respect of accommodation to encourage domestic holidays during the shoulder periods; a similar scheme operated jointly by the employers and unions which exists in France.
Direct expenditure by Irish and foreign tourists on holidays in Ireland represented 6.4 per cent of GNP in 1983. Employment in the industry accounts for 59,000 directly employed and 40,000 seasonal or part-time workers. For example, many shops in the larger cities and tourist areas derive a large amount of their income from tourists. The extent of the benefit varies according to the location and time of the year but the relationship with employment is clear. In the report the observation was made that tourism is handled, in the majority of cases, by small, labour-intensive businesses and that they are well dispersed throughout the country. They are, in many cases, family owned. It is well to point out that the Government saw fit to include job creation especially as a top priority for tourism because they believe that this is an area in which increases in permanent, temporary, or part time jobs can be achieved.
Tourism is a very significant factor in the economy. International tourism is increasing and, based on education and world trends, this increase will continue. Tourism is an expanding market and one in which this country, with the right policies, should get an increased share. The first requirement would be to sell ourselves as a country giving good value for money. We must, therefore, be competitive. Up to now we have not been seen to be competitive. Principally due to our high rate of taxes Ireland has lost market competitiveness against other European countries in the field of tourism. For example, in cumulative terms, since 1980 our competitiveness has declined by 16 per cent in Germany, 19 per cent in France and 15 per cent in Britain. This situation has arisen due to high VAT and high taxation. For example, car rental charges in Ireland are still among the highest in Europe in spite of the recent very welcome reduction in VAT from 18 per cent to 10 per cent.
As outlined in the national plan Building on Reality the Government are fully aware of the need to improve our international competitiveness. Our inflation rate at the moment is being reduced in line with other European countries. Indirect taxation has had a damaging effect on our price competitiveness and increases in taxation on tourism goods and services should be avoided.
In preparing our report we were very concerned at the high rate of VAT, 23 per cent, on meals. We strongly recommended that this rate be reduced to 10 per cent. I do not believe there would be any loss of revenue as a result, as the cheaper price would encourage more people to eat out, it would encourage more tourism to increase competitiveness and, therefore, it would result in greater employment in our hotels and restaurants. I welcome the reduction in the rate of VAT on hotel accommodation and caravans, boat and car hire from 23 per cent to 10 per cent and also the VAT rebate scheme for tourists exporting goods in their personal baggage.
Unless Ireland is seen internationally as good value for money, from a tourism point of view, we are not going to succeed. We do not have guaranteed sunshine and unless we can offer other alternatives tourists will follow the sun. We do have nice scenery, good fishing and a pleasant and friendly people. It is also an advantage for our two biggest markets, the UK and North America, that we are an English speaking country.
A disadvantage, from a tourist point of view, is that access to Ireland is restricted to transport by air or by sea. We are thus at a disadvantage with most European countries, where overland transport by road and rail plays a major role in tourism access. Therefore, Ireland can be seen as a secondary destination. Another disadvantage is the Northern Ireland situation. The consequences of nearly two decades of violence and instability in Northern Ireland have been severe setbacks for tourism in the Republic. The greatest loss has been in the British market. Expenditure in the Republic of Ireland by UK tourists accounted for 26 per cent of all UK tourist expenditure in Europe in 1969; in 1981 this was down to 11.5 per cent. However, after the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement I am satisfied that there will be an increase in cross-Channel visitors over the next few years.
In relation to access to Ireland mentioned earlier the committee felt that the cost of getting here was particularly expensive. The point was also made that 80 per cent of the people who come here for a holiday use a State company to transport them. The views of Bord Fáilte were ascertained on this aspect of the costs involved and they estimated Ireland's competitive position with regard to access transport to Ireland from our main overseas market as follows:
Air transport from Britain — not competitive. Sea transport from Britain — marginally competitive. Air transport from America — competitive. Air transport from Continental Europe — not competitive. Sea transport from Continental Europe — competitive.
The White Paper fully acknowledges the vital importance of access to tourism and the cost is one of the major elements contributing to the cost of holidays in this country. The White Paper also provides for the development by tourist interests of an expanded programme of charter activity to Cork and Shannon from the UK and Europe. Some sources in the tourism trade allege that there is a conflict between the commercial objective of the State carriers, particularly Aer Lingus, and access for tourists.
The committee took oral evidence from Aer Lingus and B & I, which it put in contrast with further oral evidence from Bord Fáilte and other tourism interests. The chief objections were that Aer Lingus were inhibiting the granting of licences for private air charter to Ireland and were uncompetitive on certain air routes. They were more interested in transporting Irish holidaymakers abroad through their summer charters to Mediterranean destinations than in developing tours to Ireland. Aer Lingus when challenged, however, hotly disputed these claims and maintained that their fares from the Republic of Ireland to London were very competitive. They claimed that they carried seven out of ten visitors by air to Ireland including half a million tourists last year. They also denied obstructing proposals for private charter to Ireland. If any one of the charges against Aer Lingus were true it would be very damaging to our tourist industry. A combination of any few of them would be very damaging to the promotion of tourism. There is reason to be concerned at one of the allegations. It states that Aer Lingus were more interested in transporting the holiday makers abroad to the 19 Mediterranean destinations than they were in promoting tours to Ireland. If this were true it would be a very serious situation and would need urgent investigation.
The committee also dealt with the question of sea transport. They were concerned with the lack of consultation about operational charges by sea carriers which have an adverse effect on tourism business. The recent pooling arrangements on the Irish Sea between B & I and Sea-link Ferries is evidence of this lack of consultation. The committee on page 20 says that the committee are appalled that such decisions are implemented without any prior consultation with tourism interests and that these episodes together serve as topical and typical examples of the ineffectiveness of State policy for tourism and the incapacity of Bord Fáilte to respond to the needs of the industry.
Marketing our tourism is one of the major ingredients for success in the industry. The committee were critical of Bord Fáilte in this area. On page 23 of the report they state that Bord Fáilte tend to market Ireland as a whole and not to concentrate on subsectors which would yield a greater benefit and certainly be more quantifiable. Again the marketing initiatives of Bord Fáilte should be modelled more on those of CTT which promotes exports of manufactured goods. These initiatives would include group marketing schemes, individual incentives for marketing executives and practical schemes to support tour operators.
The committee acknowledge that Bord Fáilte operate schemes in these areas but they are felt to be inadequate and of limited scope. However, Bord Fáilte are satisfied with their marketing strategy and are looking forward to a bumper year for tourism in 1986. They state that the outlook for 1986 is relatively good despite a fall in the value of the US dollar. The entry of the new US carriers will offer many opportunities for additional business. The growth in the non-ethnic holiday segment in Britain should continue. The ethnic market has traditionally been of importance for Irish tourism. There are estimated to be over 50 million people living abroad who are of Irish descent. It will take a lot of marketing and expertise to attract a percentage of these people to Ireland.
Even in the minutest of terms this would give a massive boost to our industry. Statistics have shown that expenditure per person by North American tourists is more than twice as high as the average out of State tourists. Therefore, these tourists are of vital importance to the hotel, coach and car hire sectors and, as I have already said, its contribution to the employment situation is vast.
The tourist industry must strive to ensure that it offers a high quality product at a competitive price. It must market that product effectivelly and take advantage of opportunities as they arise including favourable currency changes. Total revenue from tourism in 1983 amounted to £808 million. While CSO figures are not available for 1984 Bord Fáilte estimate that export tourism increased by more than 6 per cent. The forecast for 1985 is for record tourism earnings — the best year yet since 1979. This forecast has been given in the December issue of the Bord Fáilte magazine which states:
Total revenue from overseas tourism is expected to be £475 million this year — £92 million or 17% in real terms better than in 1984, an all-time record for the industry. The overall number of visitors from overseas increased by 3% to almost 1.9 million. An estimate of earning from Northern Ireland boosts total out of State earnings to £712 million — which is £126 million more than in 1984.
No figures were available for home holidays but because of the poor weather conditions this market was expected to show a decline. While I welcome the increase in the earnings from tourism during the last three years as stated, I want to point out that Ireland had lost a lot of its market share prior to this. Statistics for the years 1972 to 1981 show that Ireland had real tourism growth of 35 per cent over that period. The EC average was 47 per cent. In terms of tourism growth Ireland rank eighth out of ten EC member states. Recent improvements have been brought about mainly by the strength of the US dollar. Bord Fáilte will continue to market home holidays and will place emphasis on the different sectors of the industry to become more actively involved in promotion and marketing directed at the Irish holidaymaker. One of the new ideas for 1986 is the introduction of a three year programme to extend the tourist season into April and May.
Sitting suspended at 12.30 p.m. and resumed at 2 p.m.
Before the break I was speaking about the introduction of a three-year programme to extend the season into April and May. This would be marketed under the title of "Springtime in Ireland". It would be promoted in such a way as to ensure that it sells the overall image of Ireland so that Ireland as a destination gets the maximum spinoff for the year as a whole. The committee in the preparation of this report covered a wide variety of related areas associated either directly or indirectly with tourism. They received a number of submissions from interested parties, 15 in all, which were very important in the preparation of this report. They also took oral evidence in public from Aer Lingus, B & I, Bord Fáilte, CERT, Irish Caravans Co. Limited, Coach Tourism Council of Ireland, the Irish Hotels' Federation and the Licensed Vintners' Federation. Each of these bodies put forward their point of view as to how changes should be made in their respective areas with a view to improving their performance vis-a-vis the tourist trade. Reference has been made by other Senators in connecton with most of these, so I will not dwell on these points.
The committee dealt in detail with the licensing laws in so far as they affect tourism. Senators Howard and Lynch have outlined their views on these points. I support them on trying to achieve their objectives, particularly in the area of the removal of the automatic endorsement of publicans' licences. I agree with the proposed new closing time for public houses which states that they should be fixed on a seven-day basis at 11.30 p.m. all year around, with 30 minutes finishing up time, and until 1.30 a.m. on New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day.
Proper grading of hotels is another requirement. I agree with the setting up of the new consultative advisory group on hotel grading established this year by Bord Fáilte. There should be a working party to develop grading criteria covering not only the physical aspects of hotels but also peoples' performance and standards.
Finally, the two major achievements in product terms for tourism in 1985 was the reduction of VAT to 10 per cent on most tourism services and, secondly, the newly announced hotel and guesthouse reconstruction scheme. This scheme announced by the Minister will encourage much-needed reinvestment. The purposes of the scheme are to stimulate employment-intensive capital investment in export tourism, hotels and guesthouses, to improve overall standards and to encourage the provision of all-weather facilities to assist the extension of the tourist season. The grant limit per premises shall be up to a maximum of £30,000.
I will conclude by paying special tribute to the chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Small Businesses, Deputy Ivan Yates, for the enormous amount of work he put into this report. As he is getting married on Saturday next, I would like to wish him and his wife-to-be, Gillian, every success for the future. I would also like to thank the clerk of the committee, Mr. McAuley, who provided much of the background material which made the report such a success.
We have many industries in Ireland that depend on outside raw materials or technology. Tourism is one of the consequences of the beautiful landscape we have in this country. Anyone who has been down in the Minister's territory cannot but appreciate what beautiful natural scenery is all about. The scenic areas of our country are certainly proof that there must be a good God who created such a lovely landscape. Killarney and Wicklow are very well-known beauty spots, but I would not like anybody to think that there are no attractions inland. Anybody who is lucky enough to travel down the Barrow in a boat, to head towards Mount Leinster and to finish up near Graiguenamanagh, can enjoy beauty in nature at its very best.
I am glad to see that tourism is not being confined to areas around the coast, as used to be the case. People came and drove around the coast. They saw Ireland's coast by they missed a lot of the inland beauty. It is important for our people that visitors can come and share this beauty. From a very selfish point of view, we must say that by so doing they are bringing much-needed finance to Ireland.
Tourism is a natural amenity we have. We do not have to build artificial mountains, artificial hillocks or canals in order to make the place look nice. Nature has provided this for us. If we could be given a guarantee of the fine weather, such as we had two summers ago, Ireland would be a very appealing place. People have a yearning to go to Europe. The main attraction of Europe seems to be the guaranteed sunshine. We could have the best of both worlds with fine weather and the lovely scenery. We have to make sure that we do not discourage people from coming here because of prices. We can certainly control prices. The idea of fleecing tourists is disappearing. It is a very short-sighted attitude to have. One might make a lot of money one year, but tourism is an ongoing business and the more goodwill we generate by giving people good value the more we stand a chance of having people come back to visit us again.
I have been talking about the positive side of Irish life and our natural beauty but I want to make reference to what we do not have. Certainly, as a nation we do not seem to have a flair for tidiness and neatness. When we go abroad we are impressed by how tidy places are. When we come back to Ireland we see how untidy we are. Much litter is thrown around the place. Despite the best efforts of our county councils and town commissioners, we just seem to be untidy by nature. Despite all efforts that are made in schools to make sure that children collect lunch papers and their garbage, there are cans everywhere, children are taught to be tidy at a very early age. Nevertheless, for some strange reason, as adults — perhaps it is because of the bad example they see — we find that we forget all about tidiness. One has only to be in a street in any town or city to see the way people throw papers away. When driving behind a car one finds that a newspaper can be thrown from a window and block one's view. It is unbelievable how, as a nation, we seem to think that the open spaces are for dumping things. Many of these fast food and take-away food places, and even the sweet shops, do not have litter facilities outside their premises where people can dump paper and wrappings. We should put more emphasis on the provision of waste bins so that we can pressurise people into behaving a little better than heretofore. I am convinced, as I get older, that as a nation we are much more inclined to react to compulsion than to anything else. Litter wardens could do a lot to bring a bit of sanity into our attitude. There can be appeals at local authority level and appeals on the paper but we would react much more to a fine of £5 if it were a £5 on-the-spot fine. We owe it to ourselves, to the nation and, certainly, to the tourist business to try improve this dreadful law in our national characteristic. Many people are extremely clean and tidy. I do not know why, for some strange reason, the vast majority seem to throw stuff around so carelessly.
Having talked about tidiness, I would now like to praise the Tidy Towns Competition which has done so much to bring pride to so many towns and villages. It is marvellous to see these places that have won the Tidy Towns Competition. Rathvilly in County Carlow was one of the leading places for many years. It is pleasant to see the amount of work that can be done and how tidy places can be. If enough people could visit the winning places, they would certainly see how we should behave. Unfortunately, not enough people see these towns.
Last year Kilkenny won the major award for a city. That was a marvellous achievement. It means that people there have a great sense of pride in their own town. It is easy enough, perhaps, for a small village to be tidy if there is a good community with a sense of pride in themselves, perhaps through the local teams or the ICA. It is probably easier for them to do a good neat job in keeping their little place clean and tidy. It was a marvellous achievement for a big town like Kilkenny to win. I want to congratulate them on their achievement. I also want to congratulate the organising body on having so many places involved. It helps immensely to bring a sense of pride into townspeople. The more towns and villages that are involved the more hope we have of having a country that is neat and tidy and that impresses people.
I was shocked in Carlow on one occasion when, during an exchange of students from France I asked the teacher who travelled with the students "What are your impressions of Ireland so far?" She replied, with gesticulations, "Dirty". Of all the impressions we should give to a visitor, that is the one impression we should not give. I hope that in the years to come Bord Fáilte will put more emphasis on tidiness and the tidying-up of litter. We cannot talk enough about it. We cannot take enough action on it. Litter will do us a lot of damage, but a lot of good will be done if we can eliminate it.
As has been mentioned by previous speakers, the troubles in the North of Ireland have caused us many problems. People are afraid to come here. They say that one could not chance going up there. I suppose we have different ideas about other countries also. Perhaps with the Anglo-Irish Agreement things may calm down a bit and people may feel confident that they can come and share the beauty of our country. We would like to see them coming.
As has been mentioned previously, I welcome the grants to guesthouses of up to £30,000 to help people expand. Some of these guesthouses have taken a knock especially last summer, which was so bad. They were geared for doing a lot of business this year because of the previous summer and the demand there was then. Irish people were very willing to stay at home and call to these places. Many of these guesthouses have lovely facilities. They are a credit to the people themselves and to our country. I hope that these grants will help many of them to improve the existing conditions. The more they improve the more they will appeal to our visitors. Many people are inclined to drive around the country, not booking in any place but spending a night here and there. That is good for a country because it broadens the whole aspect. People may want to see the beautiful River Barrow with Mount Leinster in the background as they go along, whereas if they book into a hotel in one of our well-established tourist resorts they will see only that part of the country. It reminds me of people who go to New York and who profess to know everything about America when they come back. New York is as typical of America as any one spot in any country is typical of the entire country.
I want to compliment the committee on this report on tourism. I hope that we will capitalise on our natural facilities and that we will live up to our standard of "céad míle fáilte" for our visitors in order to make them feel happy and to let them know that they are welcome to share the beautiful places we have in this country.
I also welcome very much not only the White Paper on Tourism but also this third report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Small Businesses. I believe that the report is a milestone in tourist policy. Hopefully, it will bring tourism back to a position of importance such as it enjoyed in the 1950s and 1960s. In those years, perhaps, many would think one need not have paid so much attention to tourism because we had a great flow of tourists to this country immediately after the war. I am old enough to remember that time. Indeed, it was a great joy to see the tourists during those years. Our standard of living may not have been as high as it is today but it was certainly a great joy to travel around the country, particularly in the west and around the Minister's own area in the south and south-west and to see so many foreign-registered cars travelling around our land enjoying the beauty and, indeed, enjoying meeting Irish people.
I am afraid many of those foreign visitors who were here in those years have not been back here since. If they came back they would see that a major change has taken place. Much of it has been referred to by previous speakers here today, last week and the week before during this debate. I will not repeat those complaints, but there are a few items which I feel strongly about.
Before I continue, I wish to pay tribute to Deputy Ivan Yates, chairman of the Small Businesses Committee, who has put Trojan work into not only this report but earlier reports as well. Indeed, he gave every member of that committee every opportunity of making their contribution. There was no hurry in dealing with the matter. Indeed, much of the work we did on that committee was overtaken by Government action. It was not that we were delaying but it was, I believe, that our chairman insisted on the thoroughness in bringing the report to be a worthwhile stage. I also pay tribute to the vice-chairman of the committee who spoke at length here a couple of weeks ago on this report, Senator Michael Lynch. All members of the committee worked hard on it and were anxious to have a worthwhile report put before both Houses of the Oireachtas and the relevant Minister hoping it would help the Minister in any future decisions, and many others who are engaged and interested in the tourist industry.
There was quite an amount in the debate about the inadequacy of our communication system, both the telephone and transport systems. I have received very many complaints from our visitors from abroad and, indeed, from our visitors from the country to the Dublin area. They have complained bitterly about the communication facilities which are lacking in many respects. Although I noticed it myself when I was having difficulty in regard to the telephone system, it was only when some visitors drew my attention to it that I realised that it is practically impossible to get the number one dials on a Monday or a Friday in the Dublin area. I had not noticed it before, but I had known that I was spending a lot more time at the telephone and getting little result on those days. When I took note of it I made sure to cut down on my telephone calls during both those days. It is probable that the telephone is used very much by industry on both Mondays and Fridays, with travellers reporting to their firms and firms giving instructions to their travellers. There is an overload and the capacity does not seen to be there to carry the extra burden. These are two prime days for tourists because tourists generally leave on a weekend and arrive on a weekend. After arriving they want to make contact with those they have left behind or to make contact with other areas of the country which they may wish to visit. That would account for some of the extra calls on Mondays and on Fridays. When they are departing, they may want to make contact to thank those whom they have visited, either in the city or in parts of the country, and to notify their relatives at home, whether in Ireland or on any part of the Continent, that they are now about to depart on their return journeys. I hope that the people responsible for the telephone communications will take into account the difficulty that is being experienced on those days.
Another pet subject of mine — I have raised it at my local authority meetings on a number of occasions — is road signs. I believe they are totally inadequate. Even where they do not exist and where adequate road signs are erected, very often they are pointing in the wrong direction. I have asked my local authority on a number of occasions if it was not possible to design a road sign that cannot be moved. We are still depending on these poles that are erected at crossroads, but it is quite easy to move these road signs. Indeed, there are some road signs in my own county which the local authority has to fix two, three and four times a year. I do not think it would be a difficult thing to put a screw into the pole to ensure that that road sign, which laps around the pole at the base, could not be moved. There is one road sign to which I have brought the local authority's attention. Every time I pass it I notice it. People from the country who pass it often when visiting the city of Dublin to see relatives in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, are confused by this sign. There is a road sign on the western road and I am sure many of the Senators who travel that road will notice, just after Ballyfermot, that if you were to follow the direction coming from the city to get to Crumlin, you would be sent into the city rather than across by Ballyfermot. Each time I look at it, it is inevitably turned in the wrong direction. That is only one example. There are thousands of signs throughout this country sending people in the wrong direction. Of course, the locals know about it. They do not even notice because they know the roads.
It is quite noticeable, certainly to me, when crossing the Border into Northern Ireland that you can have a map in the car — I know it is not advisable to read maps when driving — and get to your destination without making one wrong turn, but that cannot be done in the Republic. If you have any distance to travel, you will find one or many of the road signs facing in the wrong direction. It is to be regretted that we do not pay attention to this detail because strangers can be misled. A visitor is only here for a day or a week and is gone and does not usually complain about it. The local person does not mind because he does not even see it. He knows the roads and he does not need a road sign. I wish local authority personnel and engineers were more observant when travelling the roads and that they would take into consideration the purpose of the signs. Their purpose is to direct the stranger, not the native or the local.
I have watched in this city and when I drive outside it the difference in the pollution levels. I am an person who has lived all but four years of my life in the Dublin area but I would have to admit that Dublin must rate as one of the dirtiest cities in Europe. I am sorry to have to say that. It is not an Irish problem as some people have attempted to point out in this debate. I do not believe it is an Irish problem because I have gone to other parts of the country, such as the south-eastern coast where there ane many beautiful towns, but I do not find papers or cigarette cartons on the street, certainly in the summertime when I travelled those towns. There are bad patches. However, there are many places that can keep their areas clean, but Dublin is not one of them. I regret that I have to say it, because I have lived my life in Dublin and I have seen this situation deteriorate in my time. In other words, Dublin was a much cleaner place when I was a younger man.
Perhaps local authorities do not do all they should do or all they could do in this regard. There are regulations there which are not enforced. But certainly the people do not do all they could. There is nothing more annoying to me when travelling behind a car than to see the window turned down and the chocolate wrapper or the cigarette carton thrown out the window or some other litter. I go to the extent, sometimes to the embarrassment of those in the car with me, of hooting my horn at the people responsible for such behaviour. Some local authorities, indeed Dublin County Council, issue litter bags for cars, which can be placed in the front of the car and sweet wrappings or cigarette cartons can be put in this bag. It is a good idea, but I do not believe the local authorities push it enough. These bags should be readily available in all filling stations, libraries and local authority offices throughout the country. While I am saying that, I believe Dublin is the dirtiest — indeed I would go further and say it is the dirtiest city in Europe. There should be a national campaign against this type of minor pollution. Everybody talks about the polluting of rivers, which is a very important matter, and other major pollution stories we heard about, but I believe we should start with small things — the single sweet wrapper thrown away, the plastic bag from the bag of crisps or the plastic bags coming from the sweet shops and supermarkets. If we were to educate our people that these are to be disposed of in a proper manner, then we would be going a long way to correcting the major pollution cases in the country.
I am appalled at the amount of pilfering that takes place on the streets of this city. There are very many visitors to our town, and indeed these are the people who are spotted by those who are pilfering rather than the natives. They have a method of doing it. It is happening today, not too far from where we are. It has been happening for the last four or five years on a major scale. Youngsters, very often no older than ten years of age, operate in groups of two, three or four at a time. They approach you. Normally it is a teenage girl with a shawl around her, pretending to have a baby in arms and begging. They put their hand against your chest and all your attention is then directed to this person, when it is the person behind you who is doing the damage. We read an article in one of the evening newspapers recently where a purse had been taken from a lady's handbag in Henry Street or Grafton Street. Many of you have read it. Another person saw this happening and called the gardaí and had this young person apprehended. When the gardaí apprehended the young person — he was 14 or 15 — he had £600 in his possession and it can fairly be said that that £600 did not belong to him. It had come into his possession in the way in which I have described.
I know of an Italian who, a couple of months ago, coming up College Green lost £250 in this way. A 17 year old boy on O'Connell Bridge last Saturday lost £400 in this way. It baffles me that the Garda cannot pull these wrongdoers in, have them charged or have them removed from the street in some way. You do not have to take my word for it. If you were to go down there this afternoon, I am sure that you would see these young people operating. They are mostly from the travelling community. Some of them come in from my own area. I spoke to them there. They are operating in front of Trinity College. They look for the tourist. They look for the person least suspicious of their activities. I cannot understand how this is allowed to continue. It has been written about in the foreign press. I read about it in a newspaper from London, I have read about it in a German magazine. Why can we not stop it? Everybody knows they are there. Everybody knows who they are. Why can we not move in and have them removed from the streets? It is an embarrassment to us. It is affecting our tourist trade because we are now getting bad publicity abroad by these happenings.
The German magazine carried an article about the high rate of car thieving in Dublin. Naturally, any German reading that would turn his attention to Spain, Switzerland or the Isle of Man or some other place where they would feel safer bringing their cars. We have to clear up both the pollution in this city and this kind of petty thievery in the streets — petty perhaps when we think of the bank robberies or the post office robberies that have been taking place over the years. But it is not petty to that boy of 17 years who lost his £400 last Saturday and it was not petty to the Italian who lost his £250. I am quite sure it was not a petty crime to the person who lost the £600 that was found on the boy only last week on the streets of Dublin.
Bord Fáilte have done a great job for tourism. They have been battling against the tide over the last number of years because of many of the things that I have referred to, because of the troubles in the North that have affected our whole island and because of the bank robberies here. All those things affect our tourist trade because they get publicity abroad. A few years ago the city street thieving would never have got this publicity abroad, but now the tourist operators in all countries are alive to what is happening in other countries. Naturally, the tourists who spend some time here are affected by the theft of a car or the loss of their money and are going to report to the tourist people in their home country. It is bound to affect us. I believe something can be done about some of the things I have mentioned today. There are simple things that could easily be handled by those in authority.
I have envied on occasions the west and south getting massive grants for road building and all sorts of improvements to attract people to their areas. I did not begrudge it to them, but when I return to my own part of the country I find poor roads which were there 30, 50 and 100 years ago. I am very proud of what Bord Fáilte have done for the country over the years. I believe a lot more could be done, not necessarily by Bord Fáilte but by many other agencies. Many of us were complimentary of the booklet we received in recent days from the National Parks and Monuments Service showing ring forts, archaeological sites, court tombs and passage tombs throughout the country. It is an excellent document. It gives a taste of what is to be seen in our country. It is entitled Irish Field Monuments. There are many people in Europe today deeply interested in exploring and learning about these tombs and forts.
There are also many Irish people interested in it. More publications and advertising like that will help people to make up their minds where they should go in this country and what is to be seen. There are many people in many towns who could do a lot more in this regard because most towns in Ireland are steeped in history and have a lot to offer the wandering tourist. They will have to do more in future to attract people into the towns. Every time we travel a road after a lapse of two or three years we find that there are by-passes, which are welcomed by all travellers, of one town or another. Because of road construction in many parts of the country many of these interesting towns, are going to be missed by the tourist from abroad or even our native tourists. This is to be regretted. It is up to the business people in these towns who benefit from tourists to wake up and work together to ensure that we get more and more simple pamphlets informing us of what is in the town, because the average tourist will not automatically go into that town now if he has a by-pass to take him on to the next area he wants to visit. It is important that each town would keep an eye out when the engineers start to construct a by-pass. Take one town in the west, Athenry. I believe hundreds of thousands of people who, if they had known about it would have been delighted to visit and learn about Athenry and its walls — it is a town steeped in history — have by-passed it. There are many examples throughout the length and breadth of the country where tourists could be attracted to the towns but are not simply because they are not aware of what the town has to offer. It is up to the townspeople themselves to do something about it.
We have an anomaly with regard to registered and unregistered premises. Much has been said about this subject over the years. I am sure the Minister if he were here would be saying — at least in his mind —"I have heard it all before". I think a lot of it is worth repeating. An anomaly exists regarding the bed and breakfast registered and unregistered premises. In this town there are many registered bed and breakfast premises, small hotels with eight, ten or 15 bedrooms, doing a fair business but struggling to keep going. Very often in the same street you can have an unregistered premises with the same number of bedrooms who do not have to comply with the same rules and regulations as the registered premises. All premises of that size should be registered although perhaps not the private house which has two, three or four bedrooms where a family run bed and breakfast for part of the year or even for the full year. Private houses mostly operate for only a few months when they can make extra money and give employment and bring visitors to their area.
They do a very fine job. But in the centre of the city we have an anomaly regarding registered and unregistered premises whereby the owners of unregistered premises do not have to pay rates, even though they may have 12 or 15 bedrooms, while his next door neighbour who is registred with Bord Fáilte must pay rates of perhaps £2,000 or £3,000. That is an extra burden on the registered premises to keep up with the person next door, who naturally can give a cheaper rate for bed and breakfast. On top of local authority charges there is also VAT on turnover. If a premises is registered, they are allowed to have a turnover of £12,000, without paying VAT, whereas the unregistered premises is allowed £48,000 — a handsome turnover and no requirement to pay VAT. That is not the worst aspect of the anomaly regarding registered and unregistered premises. The worst aspect is that there are many complaints by visitors about the service they get in unregistered premises. They may complain about meals or the conditions of unregistered premises, but no inspection can take place.
Whatever about paying rates or VAT there is no excuse for the Minister not bringing in legislation requiring all bed and breakfast guesthouses, hotels, over a certain size, to be registered for at least inspection. I do not see why they should not have to pay rates if the premises up the street is paying rates, doing the same business, the same amount of bedroom competing in the same area and depending on the same trade and customers. If there is a complaint from that premises then there should be some agency authorised to carry out an inspection and have something done about it. Nothing will do our tourist trade greater damage than to have low standards in hotels or guesthouses.
I appeal to the Minister — and I am sorry he is not here — to take steps to correct this anomaly and to ensure that whether business people would be required to pay rates or turnover tax at the same rate as those registered, there should be some kind of registration or agency. The responsibility rests with the Minister to ensure that when a complaint is made regarding bad service, a poor breakfast, bedclothes, dirty conditions and so on in a guesthouse, there should be an agency to investigate that matter and to take corrective action. Registered premises are subject to inspection and correction, if necessary. An unregistered premises operating on the same street, with the same trade and customers is not subject to any inspection. Bord Fáilte cannot interfere no matter how many complaints they get about unregistered premises. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. I appeal to the Minister to take steps in his time, perhaps before the tourist season begins next year, to ensure that that situation does not continue in this city or country. It is more prevalent in Dublin City, particularly in the inner city areas because one does not get as large a guesthouse in other parts of the country and most of them of that size are registered as they are depending on Bord Fáilte to send visitors. But in Dublin City they are not depending on Bord Fáilte or any agency to send the business to them; all they have to do is put a sign up outside and the business flows in. They are not subject to the same regulations regarding payment of rates, payment of VAT or inspection or where there is a complaint.
I am delighted to see so many people taking an interest in this report of the committee, of which I am a member, and also in the Government White Paper. This is the first White Paper on tourism policy. It is a step in the right direction. I hope these documents will be taken seriously, considered and acted on quickly. I hope the Minister will take into account all that has been said in this debate, all that is in those documents and that some action will be taken to get back to the situation of the 1960s, in bringing hundreds of thousands of foreigners here. Our need was never greater for more and more people to come here to see us and to spend their money. They are only too willing to do that if we would only give them the opportunity and the encouragement. But first we have got to look to ourselves and make it worth their while to come here.
I am glad that we are debating the White Paper on Tourism Policy. It is appropriate that we should at the same time consider the Report of the Joint Committee on Small Businesses, dealing with tourism, catering and leisure. I compliment the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism and the Minister of State for the amount of work and dedication put into the production of the White Paper. As the previous speaker said, it is the first White Paper we have had on tourism policy. It is the first indication that an Irish Government has given that they are examining what tourism is all about, examining where we have come from in terms of developing a State policy and determining a direction for the future. I also compliment the chairman of the Joint Committee on Small Businesses, Deputy Yates, and the hard working members of that committee for the production of a very good third report by that commitee, dealing with tourism catering and leisure. It is important to realise that we are talking about one of the most important of all our Irish industries. We are talking about an industry within which we in this country have a vast natural resource and within which we have the raw material easily available to us.
It is also important that we pause for a moment and ask ourselves the question, has the State in the past given sufficient indirect financial support to tourism? The State may directly grant-aid Bord Fáilte. The State may directly grant-aid outlets which assist the tourist industry in one way or another. But we must ask ourselves the question, is the State not, on the other hand, indirectly and unintentionally or perhaps due to lack of thought, taking steps which are actually inhibiting the development of tourism? I believe that the State is so doing. I would urge the Minister and the Minister of State to ensure that in the forthcoming budget the level of VAT payable in respect of various tourist services is examined. The level of VAT payable in respect of meals provided by restaurants and in respect of certain other tourism activities is much too high. One of the problems we are now facing is that the cost of spending a holiday here for the outsider and also for the Irish person is becoming unrealistically high. To try to hide that fact is being unrealistic. It is not the fault of this Governemt or their predecessor, but it is the cumulative fault of various decisions taken by successive Governments which are affecting the tourism industry.
Senator McMahon referred to the rates structure. I agree with him that there are many inequities existing within the valuation and rating system. One of the most obvious of these is the very high level of rates which small seasonal hotels have to pay and that is an example of the indirect taxation policy which affects the tourism industry. It is totally unrealistic that hotels which are open for two or three months of the year, which experience a very short tourist season, are burdened with taxation that treats them as though they were open for 12 months of the year. The sooner that problem is examined the better. The Minister comes from the south-west coast. I come from the west coast and both of our counties have within them a considerable number of outlets which are open for a very short period every year and which now find themselves increasingly threatened by virtue of a number of circumstances, but particularly by virtue of the very, very heavy rates burden which they have to bear. The future of Irish tourism in great measure is dependent on the small family hotels and on the small seasonal outlets but, unfortunately, that type of outlet is in jeopardy at the moment.
There are indirect aspects of taxation which affect the tourist industry but, at the same time, I should like to welcome the items contained in the recently published public capital programme for 1986 which benefit tourism. I wish to compliment the Minister and the Minister of State on ensuring that the Government became aware of how they can assist the tourist industry. I welcome in great measure the inclusion in the public capital programme of the caravan and camping grant scheme which provides that grants up to a maximum of 60 per cent may be made available. In my own part of the country where we have two very excellent caravan and camping sites, namely, the Clew Bay Caravan Park owned by the Gill family and the Westport House Caravan Park owned by the Earl of Altamount, both of these have received certain assistance in the past. The commitment by the Government to make further moneys available for this type of endeavour in the capital programme is a realistic decision. The future of tourism to a great extent lies on the self-catering side. Recent trends have indicated that there is a movement away from the hotel or guesthouse sector to the self-catering type of holiday. It is evident that the number of foreigners, particularly from mainland Europe to Ireland are tending to enjoy our facilities within the confines of the caravan or camping site spectrum. Therefore, it is wise that the Government should assist this type of development.
The public capital programme for 1986 also makes provision for the supplementary holiday accommodation scheme. I am very glad that the special grant level of 66 per cent is maintained in respect of the non-Gaeltacht offshore islands in special development areas. I should like to see the Minister's Department, Bord Fáilte and the regional tourism organisations making the existence of these grants known to people who are fledglings in the tourist business but who are anxious to commence development in the special development areas and particularly in the offshore non-Gaeltacht islands. The offshore islands, both Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht, have a lot to offer in terms of tourism. Off the Mayo coast we have experienced the tremendous developments which have taken place on Clare Island, the development of an excellent hotel owned by the Grady family and the development of other ancillary activities which have developed around that hotel. All of these have developed around the enterprise, enthusiasm and investment of one person. It is only right that the State should make grant assistance available for this type of activity in the tourism area.
I am pleased that the public capital programme envisages making available something over £1 million to support various tourism development areas such as angling, inland cruising, waterways development, recreational facilities, sailing and equestrian facilities. These are the facilities which attract the tourist to Ireland. We must make them available in greater numbers. These are the facilities which at the moment are being developed by individuals very frequently without the type of State support which is necessary, but nevertheless these are the facilities which encourage outsiders to come to Ireland. I would like to see grants in this area being made available to people who wish to avail of them. If that is done we can make a much better tourism substructure available.
I am pleased that the public capital programme provides additional aid to the ICC in respect of the provision of moneys for fixed asset investment. It is extremely important that that kind of money be available to the ICC and also that the facts about the availability and the terms on which that type of money will be made available within the tourism sector are communicated to the people who might avail of it. One of the problems is that very frequently the type of assistance which the State can offer, either directly through the Minister's Department, through Bord Fáilte, through the regional tourism organisations or indeed through local authorities is not made known to those people who might avail of it.
The White Paper refers in a direct way in Chapter 17 to the institutional arrangements available within tourism. By that I mean principally Bord Fáilte and the regional tourism organisations. I wish to express concern at the suggestions contained in paragraph 17.2 in regard to a diminution of the function of the regional tourism organisations. It is somewhat ambiguous in this regard in that there are suggestions that on the one hand there will be a centralisation of functions while, on the other hand, there is a suggestion that certain functions currently carried out at central level will be decentralised. It may, of course, be a suggestion that there is simply going to be a swopping of roles, that Bord Fáilte will be conferring on the regional tourism organisations some of their functions while, at the sametime, taking back some of the functions which the regional tourism organisations possess.
The problem is that there is concern on the ground about this statement. There is concern within the Mayo-Galway tourism regions about the future of Ireland-West tourism and I am quite sure there is concern in other regional tourism areas about their future. It is extremely important that the Government make known at the earliest possible moment their commitment to regional tourism organisations and to Bord Fáilte. As long as this uncertainty continues the tourism industry can only be damaged. I ask the Minister to make his position in that regard clear as soon as possible.
I should like to pay tribute to the regional tourism organisations for the work they have done. I am currently the director of one company in my capacity as a member of Mayo County Council, namely, Louisburgh Holidays. Another director is the director of the Ireland-West Regional Development Tourism Organisation. I have become aware of the work which the regional tourism organisation are carrying out in a practical, on-the-ground way and they must be allowed to continue with that work. I should like to get an assurance from the Minister that they will not be inhibited in doing that.
The White Paper also refers to the fact that our tourist industry is essentially a seasonal industry. It makes the point that there is a need to move away from the seasonality or rather to broaden the existing accepted tourist season. I accept that. I think it is extremely important that we sell the advantages we have to the tourist outside the normal, accepted tourism season. We have, within this country, many facilities which many people would like to avail of, facilities within the health care sector, facilities which can be availed of in autumn, winter and early spring. I refer to our facilities for walking, our facilities for mountain climbing, our facilities for simply enjoying winter scenery. It is extremely important that facilities of that nature should be communicated to the public worldwide, to allow them to avail of what we have.
There is reference in the White Paper to the possibility of developing the international conference tourism sector. That should be done because we have the facilities in terms of raw materials. Bord Fáilte should make substantial sums of money available to develop conference centres at suitable vantage points throughout the country to allow Ireland to avail of that tourism market. If we are to do that then it is important that the whole broad tourism infrastructure should be properly developed.
I was interested to hear Senator McMahon speak about the inadequate level of signposting. Anybody who has had the experience of driving around the country in a Seanad campaign, as some of us have been condemned to do on occasion, will know that our signposting system is totally inadequate. I remember on one occasion being in mid-Cork on a wintry morning and I asked a garda how to get to some place. He asked me where I was coming from and I realised I did not quite know where I was coming from and when I indicated to him where I was going I was not quite sure where I was going to either. The level of signposting is totally inadequate.
It would be a good idea if we were to develop one of the Department of Labour youth employment schemes for the purpose of examining the entire signposting system at the moment and consider ways of improving it. I also heard Senator McMahon refer to town bypasses. I agree with him; many towns which are potential tourist attractions are now by-passed. Certainly, where towns are by-passed special signs should be made available to indicate the attractiveness or the particular features which a tourist would find pleasurable in that by-passed town.
We can do small things to make the country more attractive. Why do CIE have to adopt the old drab, grey colour for their buildings? Why is travelliing by CIE frequently so dismal by virtue of what you see? There was a time when CIE organised station garden competitions. There was a prize every year for the best kept station garden. That is all gone with the wind now. Instead, CIE paint their stations in 19th century drab, mortuary grey. They are a most unattractive type of building for anybody to even look at. CIE should get out the paint brushes and paint pots and paint their stations in bright colours of greens and reds and purples, to make them look interesting and attractive. The same applies to post offices and to various transport centres throughout the country.
Another aspect of tourism infrastructure which the Department should look at is the old question of a regional airport. We in Mayo have a small airport at Castlebar which is useful and we have a less small airport in Barnacuille bog. The Government should have another look at the Connacht Regional Airport. It has proved its worth and it has proved its worth in the sense that people have departed from there already this year but, sadly, we now read that there are financial difficulties arising. In terms of assisting tourism in the west steps should be taken to try to ensure that that airport operates in a reasonable manner.
Funds should also be made available to continue the excellent work recently commenced on the cleaning of our canals. More funds should be made available to clean our rivers, our lakes and our small bays. These are areas which are used within the tourism industry and they have fallen into neglect and decay. Something should be done to try to restore them because they are all raw material for this great industry of ours.
There is one other area I want refer to which was mentioned in the national plan but on which, for some reason, the Government have not taken any action. That is the urgently needed reform of the licensing laws. At the time the suggestion was made that normal licensing hours would be extended. There was some opposition from particular lobbies. It is my belief, coming from a tourist area, that there is an urgent need to extend the normal licensing hours in the summer months. The existing licensing hours, both for Sundays and week-days are inadequate and unsuitable, not merely from the point of view of the tourist industry but also from the point of view of the farming community who may be busy until dark in the summer months and they then find, when they can have a well-earned drink, that the public house is closed. This Government should not run away from this problem. There is worry on the part of certain people in certain Departments when it comes to amending certain laws. If there is one voice raised they run and the promised legislation is not introduced. The licensing hours should be extended, certainly in the summer months. That should be done before next spring. If that is not done, that is another commitment in the national plan which we in this Government will not have carried out and it will be another failure which neither the Minister nor I want to live with.
It will be done.
I am glad to get the Minister's assurance on that. I also believe that the liquor licensing laws governing restaurants should be amended. We have the ludicrous situation that somebody can go to a good restaurant and have a good meal and cannot be supplied with Irish drinks in terms of liqueurs or spirits or beer. That is totally unacceptable and totally ludicrous and a situation which is very difficult to explain to the foreign tourist who comes to our land. The position regarding the licensing of our restaurants should be somewhat similar to the licensing of hotels whereby for a hotel to obtain a licence to sell intoxicating liquor — albeit through a hatch — they must have the approval of Bord Fáilte Éireann. The same standard should be applied to our restaurants. I am not suggesting in any way that every fish and chip shop in the country should have an intoxicating liquor licence. I would be appalled if that were the situation. Outlets which reach a certain standard of acceptability in the books of Bord Fáilte should be entitled to obtain a licence.
I want to refer to chapter 11 of the report which deals with tourism amenities and facilities. I refer in particular to historic monuments and houses. This is again an area where much can be done, indirectly, to assist owners of monuments which are attractive to the travelling public at large. We had an example of this in last year's Finance Act when, following very strong representations made by my friend, Senator O'Connor of Roscommon and others, the Minister for Finance agreed to amend the Finance Act to ensure that a particular tax burden would not fall on the owners of Clonallis House, the seat of the ancient O'Connor family in County Roscommon. By doing that the Minister ensured that this ancient estate, with its wonderful collection of historic books, documents and manuscripts, was retained intact and that its collection would be available to the public as it has been for some years. That was an indirect measure by the State which had a beneficial effect on tourism.
So far as historic houses and gardens are concerned the State must do far more. We had the appalling spectacle some years ago when the Earl of Ross had to sell a lot of the contents of Birr Castle. Birr Castle is not open to the public but the gardens surrounding Birr Castle are open to the public. We have the appalling position at present where Westport House, seat of the Marquis of Sligo, and one of the most historic Georgian mansions in Ireland, is no longer being publicised in literature from Bord Fáilte offices. The reason it is no longer being publicised is that certain of the activities being carried out by the owners of Westport House Estate, namely one or two of their holiday homes, do not reach the standard of acceptability which is approved by Bord Fáilte. For that reason alone Bord Fáilte now black Westport House in their literature. No tourist office in Ireland will carry literature advertising the existence of Westport House or its contents.
It is quite an appalling situation when at the moment we have in the National Gallery an exhibition of the paintings of James Arthur O'Connor, one of the most famous 18th-19th century Irish landscape painters while at the same time the best and most expensive private collection of his painting in the country, that in Westport House, is not publicised by our tourism office. At the same time Bord Fáilte will publicise Westport House Caravan Park which is another activity operated by the same owner. It is publicised but because other activities — private holiday homes on the Westport House Estate and elsewhere — do not reach sufficiently high standards, the historic mansion is blacked. I regard that as a totally unacceptable situation. I would ask the Minister to bring that up imediately with Bord Fáilte and to ensure satisfactory resolution of that impasse.
Westport House is the tourism focus of the west of Ireland. It is the focal point betwen Lissadel in Sligo and Connemara. It is the focal point that brings so many people into County Mayo and yet this house with its collection of paintings, documents, silver and furniture is not publicised by Bord Fáilte. I have made representations to Bord Fáilte on this issue but I have received very unsatisfactory replies. I believe that the time has come when a ministerial directive, if that is possible, should issue to the board to demand the carrying of literature dealing with Westport House. Once that is done, if there are outstanding issues to be negotiated let them be negotiated. Bord Fáilte is the national tourism agency and it should facilitate all reasonable tourism promoters.
While I am speaking about heritage houses and gardens I pay tribute to the work done by An Taisce and the Irish Georgian Society in this regard. If one examines the Darner House in Roscrea, Castletown House in Celbridge and indeed the contents of Castletown House which have been reassembled, as it were, over the past 20 years, one can appreciate the tremendous work being done by these two bodies, particularly by the Irish Georgian Society. I think it is time, that these bodies got greater support from the State. Their work should be given the type of aid that is necessary. What they have achieved to date has been achieved through voluntary effort. I think that the pious platitudes in the White Paper dealing with historic monuments and houses will remain just that until this State indicates a willingness to help in a positive way the owners or occupiers of them.
I also commend the work of the national forest service in the development of parks and facilities of that nature. The development of the King-Harmon estate in Boyle and more recently the Connemara Forest Park are certainly living monuments to the tremendous work being done by this body. I also think in this regard that the State should try to encourage local authorities to examine within their areas existing forest belts and existing clumps of trees worthy of preservation and which can be preserved and that steps should be taken to ease the making of preservation orders by local authorities.
I want to refer to Chapter 9 of the report which is headed "Environment". Chapter 9 (1), which I will read into the Official Report, sets the background fairly well. It states:
The environment is of primary importance to the overall tourism product. The economic and employment benefits of tourism would be severely eroded if environmental conditions were permitted to decline. Careful management of the environment is therefore an economic necessity as well as a social issue. The Irish environment is in many respects cleaner than that of the home countries of many of our visitors. It is important that the image of a clean environment is preserved. Indeed it makes sound economic sense to bolster this image by investing in environmental management and pollution control and in the preservation and development of amenities.
I agree totally with that statement. In this regard there are certain steps which could and should be taken. Bord Fáilte and the regional tourism organisations should have a much closer liaison with local authorities in connection with the revamping or the re-examination of town and county development plans. If they do that, then the tourism interest can have a much greater input into the steps which local authorities take in terms of environmental protection. Quite an amount can be done in that area.
The regional tourist organisations should continue the interest they are showing in the Tidy Towns Competition. This is a most important competition in terms of improving the appearance of our villages and towns and indeed I was very impressed this year to see the operation in my own town of Westport of the various facilities available, the local authoritly working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Junior Chamber of Commerce and working with the aid of the social employment scheme under which we had 26 young workers cleaning up our environment and our town. That has had the effect of improving our overall position in the Tidy Towns Competition. Unfortunately, many other towns did not avail of the social employment scheme for that purpose. Bord Fáilte and the regional tourism organisations should communicate with the local authorities, tell them what is available and encourage them to avail of the resources which are there to try to ensure that they can play a better and more constructive role in next year's Tidy Towns Competition.
I would also commend the role of the Junior Chamber of Commerce nationwide in developing competitions like the Tidy Shop Fronts and Better Shop Fronts competitions. It is amazing how shop fronts can make a town attractive or how shop fronts can make a town unattractive. The best example of that is to walk down the most glorious thoroughfare in this country, namely O'Connell Street, and one can see how what was a magnificent street has been devastated by the cheap and demeaning plastic burger signs of so many retail food outlets on that one street. The presentation in terms of shop frontage is extremely important. I am glad to see that many outlets are moving towards an improved type of shop front. I think that the Minister's Department, Bord Fáilte and the regional tourism organisations can play their role to ensure-that there are overall improvements here.
While I am speaking of Dublin I think it is a pity that there is not a national campaign for Dublin. It is a pity to see this capital city deteriorating day by day. It was once a joy to walk through the streets of this city at night time to window shop. Now you cannot do it. The main streets are barricaded. The windows are covered by steel grids. One wonders about the adequacy of policing at night time along our central streets. It is time that Bord Fáilte, principally as the national tourism organisation, communicated with the corporation of the city of Dublin to try and to get under way as speedily as possible a national campaign for Dublin to try to improve the city in terms of its overall appearance, to improve it as a walking-about zone for all the citizens and to improve the various historic sites and monuments, streets, squares and buildings in it.
Also under the heading of environment, I would like to refer to one other area of legislation which I feel is not used sufficiently by local authorities and that is the derelict site legislation. There is machinery there which my own urban district council in Westport use very effectively to clear derelict sites. We have cleared many of our derelict sites. We have done it in a way that has not affected the environment of our town. Unfortunately, many local authorities are not using the machinery available under this legislation to clean up their areas. The tourism bodies in this country should get in touch with the local authorities and encourage them to use the derelict site legislation.
The final matter I want to raise under the heading of environment, and it relates to the town and county development plan, is the operation of the planning laws generally. The tourism organisations must communicate with the local authorities and they must indicate their concern where there is concern at the inadequacies of planning or the manner in which the Planning Acts are carried out, monitored or controlled in particular local authority areas.
I want to refer to the whole question of our culture. We have a lot to offer in terms of song, dance and language and in terms of the cultural environment which we have. We have within or National Museum treasures which are unsurpassed. Take for example, the Treasures of Ireland Exhibition, which was opened about two years ago in The Hague by the Minister for Education and which then moved to Berlin and to other cities of the world. The effect of that exhibition was to promote Ireland, in the best sense possible. There are many arte-facts and items worthy of being seen in the National Museum which have not seen the light of day for many years. There are other historic items in other bodies which have not seen the light of day for many years. Perhaps the best example, since I am speaking in the Seanad Chamber, is the Seanad casket that is lying encased in its outer cage in the basement of the Royal Irish Academy, a most glorious item of the best Irish craftsmanship which until this House was removed from the constitutional scene by Mr. de Valera in 1936 was carried in here at the commencement of each Seanad hearing and placed on the Cathaoirleach's desk. That magnificent casket is no longer available to sight, it is in the basement of the Royal Irish Academy. There is much in the basement of the building next door that we do not see.
We must develop the idea of regional museums. In this regard I was in touch with the Department of Education some time ago to see if a small grant could be given to allow the Earl of Altamont to make available his collection of historic documents in Westport House to the public in some safe way. I was unsuccessful in my application. I believe the State must encourage private individuals or State institutions who have items worthy of viewing to make available around the country places where these items can be seen. I would ask the Minister to take positive steps in that regard.
I want to conclude by saying that we are very privileged to have a White Paper on Tourism. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism to our overall economy. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on where our tourism policy should go from here. I would hope that the debate on this White Paper will continue in the other House. I hope the Minister and his Department will encourage that debate to be carried through into every local authority, into every school, into every chamber of commerce and every junior chamber of commerce, into every body interested in tourism in Ireland. I believe that, if we do that, at the end of the day we will be able to produce an overall tourism plan to guide us through into the next century.
A short time ago I read with interest that the hotel, tourism and catering industry was classed by Manpower as the top employer in the country. There are 62,500 people employed in the hotel and catering industry with definite potential for 2,000 new jobs by the end of this year. Seventy three per cent of these jobs are full time and permanent, with the remainder being seasonal, and the main growth areas are forecast to be hotels, restaurants and in general catering areas. This happy situation exists despite all the difficulties that the industry copes with, including the fact that less than one-third of all our managers are formally trained, and one wonders what the figures would be if all the difficulties with which the industry as a whole is faced were to be sorted out. I have no doubt this industry is operating away below potential and that the prospects for expansion are massive.
Over 80 per cent of the business associated with tourism is in the small business sector and, being concerned with the service industry, is labour intensive. Benefits are spread right throughout the economy — food, accommodation, drink, transport, entertainment, crafts, clothes and so on. Compared with areas like agriculture and industry, tourism is certainly the cinderella when it comes to back-up from official level. For example, State funding to tourism was £28 million in 1984 compared with £255 million to agriculture in the same year. A comparable figure in terms of export value would demand a minimum investment level of three times the amount in funding. Given that tourism does not contribute to the black hole syndrome and that the return to the Exchequer is so great — some estimates say it is 68p in the pound — the discrepancies bear further examination.
The tourism branch of the Department of Industry has a staff of nine and is backed up in the areas of promotion and development by the statutory body, Bord Fáilte. Tourist information is provided by the regional tourism organisations. The total staff for tourism is approximately 490. By comparison, the total staff for agriculture is approximately 7,500. Other Departments which back up the tourism allocation include Fisheries and Forestry, Office of Public Works, SFADCo, Communications and Environment. So, it is evident that this major sector of the economy is scattered across a plethora of Departments in a slapdash manner with no one Department committed to achieving order, stability and reasonable levels of uniformity in this sector. This results in a peak season of short duration with little or no activity outside of that particular time.
Tourism is the third highest generator of foreign earnings in Ireland. It is also one of the most labour intensive, generating two jobs in other sectors — retail, entertainment, Irish goods, transport and so on — which, in turn, is largely spent back into the economy.
Given the international tourism is increasing and that the growth is expected to be maintained, it is fair to say that Ireland should address itself to gaining an increased turnover. This will not come about without a conscious effort to produce policies which are relevant to market requirements. For example, if you examine the difficulties involved in actually getting to Ireland it is obvious that the transport agencies should co-operate fully in overcoming these difficulties. Alas, this does not seem to be the case. Aer Lingus are downright uncompetitive on certain routes — they have a monopoly and are often tardy in announcing fares — while in the sea transport area decisions on sailings seem to be taken without any consultation with tourism interests but purely as a matter relevant to the Department of Communications.
Since tourism is the third largest generator of foreign earnings after agriculture and industry, one often wonders how it achieved this position given the somewhat haphazard approach which is exemplified in the while sea of planning and development and also in view of the obvious need for an integrated tourism policy. Let us examine different aspects of tourism and consider areas of major influence. Bord Fáilte spent £10 million of its £25 million allocation in 1984 on marketing, to market Ireland as a whole and not in sub-sectors which would yield greater benefit. For example, more money could be spent in aid to tour operators and on marketing executives and so on. Furthermore, Bord Fáilte tend to employ Irish personnel abroad. I question the wisdom of this and often wonder if local staff would not have a greater nose for the needs and requirements of their own countrymen and thereby devise packages and so on to cater for the many and varied tastes.
It appears to me that Bord Fáilte apply a particular marketing strategy in relation to the United States. I am speaking with particular reference to the American package market. In 1984, 27 per cent of the total American trade to Ireland was package. Of that, 90 per cent, who stayed for a while in Dublin, stayed in hotels like The Westbury, The Burlington and The Berkeley Court, while outside Dublin the main types of hotels used were The Great Southern and a few others. All other types of hotel were used by 8 per cent; farmhouses and guesthouses were used by 4 per cent.
I have to ask why. The only answer I can find is that this is a deliberate marketing strategy. This is the only type of package tour aimed at the American market. Is it any wonder then that we are perceived to be expensive? If you or I go into any of these types of hotels we will pay £60 to £80 per night for a bed. We will pay nearly £2 for a short and a mixer, £1.50 for a pint and roughly £5 for tea and sandwiches for two.
I carried out a few tests of my own which revealed some very interesting information. Some friends and I took turns to phone the Dublin Bord Fáilte office. We outlined the situation whereby a group of friends planned to visit Ireland, to fly in from America in the spring. We asked where would Bord Fáilte recommend that they stay. The answer was always the same: The Westbury, The Burlington and the Berkeley Court. This happened a number of times. We mentioned Jurys and were told. "Yes, I suppose they could stay there, too". What does this mean? The next question we investigated was ownership of these hotels and we did not have to look too far. As is well known, these hotels are all owned by the same person who holds a very lofty position indeed in Bord Fáilte. I would just pose the question: if Deputy Dick Spring or Deputy Garret FitzGerald or Deputy Charlie Haughey was the person in question, would there or would there not be comment? I suggest to Bord Fáilte, lest they be perceived to accommodate vested interests, that perhaps the position of this individual could be re-examined.
It can easily be said that these hotels offer the accommodation and so on required. In my view, they offer stereotype accommodation which is available anywhere in the world — the standard twin-bedded room with TV and mini-bar along with built-in cabaret, some of it stage Irishness at its worst. Ireland, if we are to survive in the tourism stakes, has to offer more, given our bad weather and so on. Surely the job of Bord Fáilte is to promote Ireland and specific aspects of Irish life across a range of places and activities — in farmhouses, small family country hotels and so on — in other words, to spread the benefits around.
I am not saying that this business should cease, rather am I saying that this end of the package tour business seems to be well on its feet and it is now time to go into other areas of potential within the package tour field. For example, why not promote a package which would encourage European and UK bound passengers to spend a few days meandering through Ireland? In 1984, two million Americans travelled direct to London and altogether six million travelled to Europe. I assume the Irish figure of 344,000 American tourists is included in the eight million. Do Bord Fáilte actively and aggressively tap into this potential? Given the mass exodus travelled for shopping and sightseeing, did Bord Fáilte actively promote our VAT-free favourable prices for cashmere, glass, arts and crafts to persuade these travellers to spend a few days? I do not know, but I would be very interested to find out.
One aspect of Irish life that Americans I have met admire is our pace of life, particularly in rural Ireland. They are intrigued by the typical Irish kitchen, the bogs, the farmhouses and the country pubs. I had 74 Americans in Westmeath this summer. They were on a package tour and I invited them to Westmeath for a day. We went to see the Royal Canal, both where it is restored and where works are in progress. We went to see an old churchyard, a farm and then, of course, we finally adjourned to the local pub. They loved meeting the local characters who chatted and talked and, as we say in Westmeath, the crack was mighty. I showed these very nice people a very real part of Ireland. They saw what our reputation is built on — friendliness, easy pace and, despite the weather things which are uniquely Irish. I know there is much criticism about accommodation outside the big type of hotels but we have a network of the finest and cheapest accommodation in the world in our registered B and Bs and farmhouses. Let us promote them more.
At local level in Westmeath I am particularly criticial of the tourist information set-up. The tourist office is a mile from Mullingar town. In effect, tourists come to Mullingar and are sent out of the town to go to see the Shannon and elsewhere — anywhere else but Mullingar. Can you just imagine that situation — a tourism promoting body a mile outside the county town? It should be in the centre of the town with detailed information, as opposed to a few lines, about activities like fishing, places of interest, local historical and archaeological data, places to shop and eat and places of entertainment, sporting events and so on. The list is endless. I would like to see booklets entitled "What to see in the Killucan area". "What to see in the Mullingar area" etc. Much of this data is readily available from historical, archaeological and other groups, but it is not documented and presented at the local tourist information outlets.
I made an inquiry to the head office of Bord Fáilte about setting up a youth rambler hostel in the area and was told, quite rightly in current terms, that it would not be viable.
The reason given was that our area is on the way to nowhere. It is not on a main line. Neither I would say, was the Ring of Kerry nor The Burren, but they are now. This leads me to say that the impression I was given was that Killucan will remain a place to nowhere and that, without the type of marketing strategy which developed areas like the Ring of Kerry, Galway and so on, will remain within that category. I detest this negative attitude from a marketing organisation and really feel that, while they are actually correct at the moment, the position can be and should be changed, even in the long term.
Further afield in New York I visited the Bord Fáilte office on Fifth Avenue and I was not blown over by what I saw. It was just an ordinary office, nothing special, nothing different — just ordinary. I would like this office to reflect and show a little bit of Ireland. For example, I want a decidedly Irish atmosphere in it as far as possible. In other words, the office should reflect an aggressive promotion with all the promotional gimmicks, for want of a better word. Furthermore, I heard recently that Bord Fáilte are now in a position where they can no longer afford their Fifth Avenue ground floor office and are in the process of moving to Third Avenue on the nineteenth floor. If this is true, I find it extraordinary that, instead of moving to a nineteenth floor on Third Avenue they would not combine with groups like Aer Lingus and other Irish bodies in the USA and open what could be called an Irish promotional centre.
With regard to the United Kingdom market, the situation there is much different. The main factors in the decline of this market are the Northern troubles and, of course, our prices. The Northern situation will be a factor until stability is restored. The fact that we have lived with nearly two decades of violence in Northern Ireland has major consequences for the Republic in that continuous worldwide publicity has highlighted the situation. The more serious effect indeed has been, as we all know, the decline in the numbers of British tourists travelling to Ireland. As I said, the Northern issue has been the main one.
Crime levels in Dublin have escalated, with obvious consequences for the tourist industry. Prices and the cost of coming to Ireland are massive by any standard. Take the average person coming here from Britain. He meets a stumbling block even before he leaves his own country. Access prices, which I have already referred to, are very high. In fact, the London-Dublin air route is the most expensive in the world. But hotel, travel, entertainment and food costs are outrageous, too, Car rental is another matter altogether. For a typical family saloon prices vary between £560 amd £800 for two weeks rental. Petrol at nearly £3 a gallon is prohibitive. The cost of eating out and entertainment are a way above foreign levels. There is much that can be done to alleviate the situation by all interests concerned. I will outline these in more detail later on.
The Government could certainly take steps by addressing the whole question of the cost of petrol. A system would be, for example, to log passport numbers or drivers' licence numbers into a coupon book and take the mileage at entry and later at exit. An average estimate of petrol used could be calculated on the basis of the excise duty content and a refund made. I am simply saying that, if we apply our minds to the problem, some sort of system which will be of benefit to the tourists can be advised and ultimately will benefit the country as a whole.
The other area of Government intervention is the whole question of VAT and, in particular, the cooked food industry for the figure is now 23 per cent in sitdown areas. This should be reduced to 10 per cent and could partly or wholly financed by a 10 per cent rate being imposed on take-away foods which currently have a zero rate. It is ridiculous that one sector whose costs are considerably lower should be favoured over another sector of the cooked food industry. One restauranteur said to me: "Ten per cent VAT was OK, 15 per cent was still not too bad, 18 per cent made us feel we had to do something, and at 23 per cent we have to fiddle". That is the reality of the situation.
The whole question of standards greatly affects tourism. Given that one third of our owner-managers had no formal training in the industry and that the return on investment in this sector has declined over the years, it is vital that high standards of management prevail in the areas of value for money, service, cleanliness, hygiene, accommodation and environment and, in my opinion, there is much room for improvement.
In terms of value for money, it is very difficult to justify charges of 50p in hotels for local telephone calls or, indeed, 12½ per cent added on to your bill for service charge, regardless of whether you enjoyed your meal, or whether the service was good or indifferent, to charge for children who are sharing with parents in limited accommodation, or to charge £3.50 for children's menus which, in the main, offer junk food. The hotels must take on board an active responsibility in these areas. Hygiene across the board from pubs to hotels leaves much to be desired. The toilet facilities in many — but I stress not all — are, to say the least, filthy and at best they do not even supply clean towels, hot water, soap and so on. Overall they are not up to standard which indicates that sufficient work is not being done to improve the situation. Another aspect, of course, is that rarely — I have yet to see them in fact — are clean facilities provided for mothers who wish to feed young children and attend to their needs.
When advertising for business, hotels often advertise babysitting facilities and what they comprise in my experience is a disgrace. I have seen a room full of screaming children attended by one women. This is a comprehensive babysitting facility. It is misleading. I have seen a crowded reception hall with the telephone off the hook. This is frightful and is a common practice. In no circumstances would I leave small children in a hotel bedroom with the telephone off the hook, which nobody can hear anyway. Indeed, these children are often in danger because of windows which are easily opened and so on. There is much that can be done here by the hoteliers and Bord Fáilte should take an active role in stamping out this type of false promotion and inaccurate and misleading information.
The time has come possibly to set up an independent inspectorate. I say "independent" because I know the practice of Bord Fáilte has been to notify establishments of their arrival in advance. What happens we can all imagine. The place is tidied up, the red carpet is out, the meal is ready, the wine is out. The Bord Fáilte representative is looked after very well. There should be on the spot inspections with no notification in advance. Indeed, the Sunday World, for all its faults, has actively pursued a policy of detection and their type of campaign could well be adopted. Bord Fáilte claim they have difficulties in removing people from their approved lists because they are compiled on an annual basis. I have seen places which have been below standard for years still in the tourist guide.
Another aspect of tourism which has been virtually ignored is the weather factor. Bord Fáilte seem to forget that we can have a summer like last summer. The people involved in the industry also seem to forget that. God help mothers and fathers on holidays if, like this summer, day after day we have rain and more rain. I will detail my own holiday this year. We rented a house in Galway and away we went for two glorious weeks of peace and leisure, but down came the rain and washed out the holiday. In fact, but for Leisureland swimming pool and a slide we might have gone home. Galway is one of the better areas to go in that there are many activities for adults and all adult tastes are catered for in the entertainment field. More could be done, not only in Galway but throughout the country to provide wet day activities for children and teenagers such as art, mime, drama, pantomime, dance, gymnastics and so on. Families could be offered a day ticket which would include all costs and make their holiday all the more enjoyable. Needless to say further development of summer day camps is required. If you are in Ireland on a wet day, you are in trouble, or else you have to spend a fortune in the local fairground, chip shops and cinemas.
I want to outline one major influence on the fortunes of the tourist industry which can be described as an outside influence and cannot be easily tackled: the commercial banks, they do not make life easier for the business person or for the tourist. The tourist is charged 21p for cashing a traveller's cheque. The banks open at ridiculous hours and the business person is subjected to all kinds of charges. For example, every cheque cashed for a customer in pubs, restaurants, hotels, etc., costs the publican a further 12p to lodge. Every £100 of cash he lodges costs him 35p in charges. Not only that, but you will also be charged 35p to withdraw £100 in cash — your own money — from the bank.
This, is a scandal when you consider that between them last year the two major banks made £5 million more profit than the combined list of the next top 64 companies in this country. Small businesses, which greatly comprise those in tourism, will now pay between £2,000 and £2,500 per annum in charges where previously they paid £200 to £300. This cannot be seen as conducive to promoting and assisting our tourism, or any small business for that matter, given that large customers can negotiate their own charges. The banks have a social responsibility to address themselves to a more pro-small business attitude particularly in the light of the fact that their security bill for transfer of their cash is picked up by the taxpayer. I call on these institutions to be generous and respond to the need.
I have called on all concerned to play their part. The Government have responded in certain areas, for example, the new grants, but all should respond in co-operation for the potential is there. Let the unions help too with their expertise. Let the employers and employees not only respond in the areas of need but, most important of all, to the whole question of market demand.
With reference to what Senator Durcan spoke about in the whole area of planning and the role of local authorities, a very deliberate policy of preservation of local shop fronts etc. is followed by my local council but we have found, much to our amazement, that insurance companies require these outside shutters which are in contravention of the planning laws and therefore people are left without insurance. The next job of the small businesses committee will be to examine the whole area of insurance.
I will be brief in my remarks on this very important subject of tourism. A great deal has been stated at governmental level and, indeed, at Civil Service level to the effect that more attention, more personnel ought to be devoted to this very vital area which is a massive earner of currency for us and, indeed, an industry which has a potential that is vast and in a large measure unexploited at present. The report from the Minister, Deputy Bruton, of June 30, was the first positive and definite report on tourism. From that one would hope and believe that in the future it will play a more central part in the whole area of Government policy and consideration.
Tourism, as I see it, is now being raised to a new plane of importance and, indeed, elevated to the level that it so urgently requires if we are to get the return from it that it is capable of giving. We have at present approximately 59,000 to 60,000 persons employed full time in the industry and approximately 40,000 person engaged in it part time. It is an industry which is handled in the main by small labour-intensive units. Many of these are family operated units. For that reason it spreads across a fairly large spectrum. Indeed, I could not but be reminded of a major anomaly from listening to Senator McAuliffe-Ennis when she spoke about the position with regard to the bigger hotels as against what one might call the middle area hotel group.
It is, indeed, absolutely correct to state that Americans and other tourists are directed towards the more expensive hotels, and restaurants. They are charged excessive prices and may be charged above the odds on occasions. We are not giving ourselves the best image. We are not displaying the competitiveness which actually does exist. Frankly, there are many top class hotels throughout the country which Americans and other tourists are never informed about unless they meet somebody quite accidently or are casually informed about. They seem to be directed to certain hotels in the higher price echelon. These are charged perhaps £100 a night for bed and breakfast. Therefore they regard that as being the going rate in Ireland, whereas we all know that first-class accommodation can be obtained for significantly less than that.
The whole area of guesthouses, farmhouse holidays and accommodation needs looking at. That area offers enormous potential for development. Unfortunately in the last ten years or so, while there has been a worldwide increase in the tourist trade of something like 130 per cent we have seen a decline in our return from tourism. On a worldwide basis the tourist industry is showing a magificant upsurge. There is obviously an increased movement of persons visiting different countries. We must tackle that situation quickly. We have top class attractions in this country for tourists coming from the traditional areas which have been the main support, tourist wise, to this country, such as the United Kingdom and North America. Approximately 60 per cent of our total trade comes from the United Kingdom and other European countries. We also have a sizeable percentage coming from North America. Other countries, too, in recent times are getting to know of Ireland as a place to visit.
Regarding the questions of price, value for money — which is part and parcel of the price dimension — amenities, and our general approach to tourism, we take this criticism very seriously. The potential for tourism could, apart from the extra revenue which it would bring to this country, have massive spin-off effects in the employment area and in the whole food consuming area, where we would by attracting a greater number of tourists effectively generate a large home market for our food and make us less reliant on exports for our dairy and meat products. Right across a wide spectrum, tourism, effectively and properly developed, has valuable potential. I believe that it is now being tackled very seriously by the Government. This is the first time that tourism, which indeed has been referred to as a Cinderella organisation, has been seriously examined.
There are a number of positive factors that will make people come here. I referred a moment ago to value for money. I believe that at a time of world recession there is a scarcity of money and spending power. This applies to those coming from the United Kingdom and other places too. For that reason we must make sure that those people are convinced that they will get reasonable value for money. We must also ensure that when people come here the amenities we provide and the general situation that obtains are attractive to them so that they will become, not alone potential tourists for next year and the years that follow, but also ambassadors for Irish tourism.
There is no better way of promoting tourism than by having satisfied customers coming to Ireland, staying here and then going back home to their own countries and talking with their friends. I believe earnestly that this is far more effective than any endeavours of Bord Fáilte or other organisations. In other words, a satisfied customer going home talking favourably about the situation in Ireland is the keynote to our having a greater upsurge in the number of tourists coming here.
The weather, as we all know, is an uncertain factor. We may get extremely beautiful summers, as we got in 1984 and 1983 or, indeed, we may get a disastrous summer, weatherwise, as we got this year. In the tourism area, we must be prepared for all eventualities. For that reason I submit that a great deal more emphasis must be laid on providing the sort of amenities that help to fill the gap for tourists who might otherwise be involved in scenic activity or visiting various historical places. We must make sure that we have an alternative for people who are prevented, for weather reasons, from going out and viewing the fine scenery in Ireland and viewing the various historical places. So far we do not have that.
Comparing ourselves with European countries where they are prepared for eventualities like that, we just do not measure up. We have not got enough alternatives. People coming to Ireland are confined to scenic tours, whether those organised on a package holiday or those they engage in themselves. There is little indoor activity laid on for them. That is the area we must consider. That could be coupled very closely with whole question of seasonality of tourism. If we were to develop the sort of amenities I am alluding to we would, in fact, hopefully attract tourists not only for part of the year but for the greater part of the year. That is a very important dimension as well.
There is no doubt that we must have from Government soon a very definite and integrated policy on the whole tourist industry. We must make sure that there is an application of legislation with regard to litter and pollution, which affect the whole fishing area. We must apply the measures that exist to ensure that this vital industry does not suffer. I believe that the commitment of the Government towards tourism is demonstrated in the publication in recent days of the public capital programme for 1986. That document states that a provision of £3.960 million is being made available for Bord Fáilte in 1986. Of this £3.960 million, £2.430 million is for development of holiday accommodation and hotel and guesthouse accommodation. There is also money available for camping grants. Added to that there is definite provision, financial and otherwise, for hotel and guesthouse reconstruction development schemes. There is a new grant of up to £30,000 which is worthy of mention. There is provision for the development of caravan and camping sites through grants which are being introduced. There are various other measures. The important thing to underline here is that there is a very definite commitment on the part of Government, at a time of scarcity of finance towards the tourist industry. Such a level of commitment has not existed before.
We have also, published in the same document — the public capital programme, 1986 — provision for the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd — SFADCo. The allocation is £0.11 million for SFADCo. This will be spent on necessary maintenance and refurbishment work on the company's tourist traffic development facilities. The work will also continue on improvements to Bunratty Folk Park. This investment will encourge increased visitor use and enhance the folk park's revenue earning potential, thereby improving prospects for job maintenance and creation in the area. That is an example of expenditure that is going to take place in the Shannon Airport Development Company area.
I believe that our tourist industry has enormous potential. It will not be developed overnight. It will take a high level indepth consideration to make sure that the correct policies are evolved for it. I am confident, however, that with the very positive approach of the Minister for Tourism and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, there will be a change-about in the situation. I also believe that, with the effective operation of the Anglo-Irish agreement recently introduced, more people from the United Kingdom will be attracted to this country. It is important that Ireland is seen as a safe place to go and a place where people have harmony and freedom of movement. For that reason I believe the Anglo-Irish agreement and its effective operation will also contribute to a greater tourist industry.
Finally, nobody should say that some other sectors are getting too much and tourism is getting too little of investment. I would say positively that tourism requires more money, skills and people at various levels and, most important of all, it requires the appropriate people to direct this industry.
I welcome the opportunity to respond to what has been a very constructive debate on the tourism industry. I have listened with interest to all the comments of the Senators who have contributed to this debate.
First, I would like to say that the many and varied aspects of the discussion have been most useful. It is always helpful, I think, to consider past and present policies when reviewing performance and looking ahead to the future. During the debate I noted the many constructive suggestions made by a number of Senators and I can assure the House that these ideas will be considered seriously in the course of the further advancement of tourism promotion and development policies.
As I mentioned in my comments at the beginning of this debate, the range and extent of the new marketing initiatives outlined in the White Paper will inject new life into our marketing drive. Initiatives designed, for example, to get more commercial operators out selling the Irish tourism product in the market place; to assist the establishement of three hotel brand marketing groups, and to identify promotion of the shoulder and off-peak seasons, will, I am confident, ensure that this year's all-time record performance with regard to revenue from overseas tourism will be extended in 1986. The more competitive climate created by the various initiatives taken by the Government, coupled with the new marketing strategies being implemented by Bord Fáilte, will, I have no doubt, pay real dividends next year.
Senators will probably have seen reports in the media of Bord Fáilte's marketing plan for 1986. This plan announced the week before last projects a real term increase of up to 4 per cent for overseas business next year. I feel that given the initiatives taken by the Government in recent times this target is realistic and very much achievable. My own view is that, with the full support of all involved in the export tourism drive — both in the State and commercial sectors — next year's target of a 4 per cent increase can be exceeded. I would urge all concerned to grasp the very real opportunity for increased tourism now emerging in our main markets, particularly in North America and continental Europe, and encourage all sectors of the industry to get out into the market place in increased numbers in early 1986.
My optimism about next year's prospects has been fuelled by the very extensive promotional and marketing plan unveiled by Bord Fáilte. The entry of two new American air carriers onto the North Atlantic routes will offer opportunities for additional business and ensure a healthy element of competition between carriers. Bord Fáilte have planned a very comprehensive promotional and advertising campaign in this market. Promotional workshops have been planned for a wide range of American cities to give the Irish trade the opportunity to make direct and personal contact with retailers in the market place. Cities such as Atlanta and Dallas are included in the trade workshop programme for the first time.
There are also encouraging signs in the British market. A very helpful development will be the emergence early next year of Ryanair on the Dublin-Luton air route. I was particularly pleased to learn that the Minister for Communications has recently approved, in principle, a very competitive fares regime for this route. This must be good for our tourism and helpful to Bord Fáilte's efforts in the market place. In Britain the Bord will again undertake a very extensive advertising and promotional campaign in conjunction with carriers and the Irish trade. I can assure Senators that angling promotions, which were mentioned by a number of speakers during the debate, will feature more prominently than ever in this campaign.
The prospects for growth next year on the continental European market are particularly good. A real growth rate of 6 per cent has been projected by Bord Fáilte. Having examined the Bord's extensive promotional programme for Europe, I am convinced that a target of this order on top of the 1985 performance is achievable. In this market also, the Bord will be embarking upon a comprehensive advertising and promotional programme incorporating both motivational and hardsell media campaigns. In addition, of course, Bord Fáilte will be actively involved at many of the continent's main tourism fairs and will be organiaing workshops for the Irish trade at strategic locations.
Angling promotions in Germany, France, Holland, and Belgium will also feature prominently in this programme. All in all, the scenario for Europe this year is most positive.
While covering Bord Fáilte's programme for 1986 I should, of course, refer to developing markets such as the Middle East, Japan and Australia. Undoubtedly there are enormous possibilities for increased business in these markets. At present, for example, almost half a million Japanese visit Europe each year and this traffic is expected to increase steadily. I see no earthly reason why Ireland should not get a bigger and growing share of this business. The White Paper clearly recognised this potential and at the Government's instigation Bord Fáilte are now directing their attention towards the development of these more distant but potentially lucrative sources of business.
I am particularly pleased to learn that next year for the first time ever Bord Fáilte will be holding a series of trade workshops in major cities in Australia. At these promotions the Irish trade will have the opportunity of selling direct to Australian tour operators and travel agents. This, I feel, is a very significant development and will be of enormous benefit in generating new traffic from a market which has such strong ethnic ties with this country.
As Senators will be aware, the Government are committed to the introduction of legislation to enable bona fide restaurants to provide a full range of alcoholic drinks with meals. I am pleased to say that work on the preparation of the necessary legislation is at an advanced stage and I am very hopeful that the legislation will be enacted in time for the 1986 tourist season. I can assure Senators that the proposals now envisaged will ensure that only restaurants of the highest standards will be eligible for licences. In effect the measures being proposed will restrict and tightly control the types of restaurant to which this facility will be extended.
During the debate I took particular note of the Senators' concerns about the provision of grant assistance to Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann, particularly those of Senators de Brún, Ferris and Durcan. I am concerned that the discontinuance of grants could have disastrous implications for such an important national organisation. I have, in fact, expressed this view in the past. In the final analysis, of course, this is primarily a matter for the Arts Council and the Minister of State with responsibility for the Arts. In the light of Senators' pleas, I have again taken this matter up with the Minister of State, Deputy Nealon, to see what might be done to resolve this unsatisfactory state of affairs, and I can assure Senators of my continuing commitment to ensure that this aspect of our heritage must certainly remain as part of our major promotional field in giving the high level of satisfaction it has in the past and be continued in the future.
I feel that I should again take the opportunity of stressing, from an overall tourism development aspect, the importance of the recently introduced grant scheme for hotel and guesthouse reconstruction. I would like to see all premises that are seriously concerned about overseas marketing availing of these grants. As I have already said, and I think it is worth repeating, the scheme is designed specifically to complement the White Paper's strategies aimed at encouraging more of our smaller hotels to undertake marketing overseas; combating the perennial problem of seasonality by helping to extend tourism into the shoulder and off-peak seasons and providing much needed all-weather facilities for our younger visitors.
In speaking at the commencement of this debate I referred to the Government's firm commitment in the White Paper to giving priority to tourism in their efforts to tackle unemployment. I have always taken the view that properly developed tourism and its related activities have enormous potential for job creation. I am convinced, therefore, that the new strategies and policies now being pursued will bring about the type of climate within which tourism jobs will be created. In this regard I was particularly pleased to note the results of the recently published CERT-Manpower survey of the hotel and catering industry which attributes 46,000 permanent jobs to that sector. This is more than had been anticipated and hopefully reflects a rising trend in this sector and in tourism generally.
In conclusion, let me say that I look forward into 1986 with confidence. I feel that, with the impetus of the Government's White Paper and the new policies that are now being implemented, the prospects for next year and, indeed, beyond that, are exceedingly good. Success, of course, is dependent not just on the Government or Bord Fáilte but on the wholehearted efforts of all involved in tourism. I have no doubt that this support will be forthcoming and that 1986 will see a greater presence of the industry's commercial operators at all our overseas marketing endeavours. With such commitment from the industry I am confident that next year will record yet futher increases both in export revenue and in employment in tourism.
I might also comment briefly on some points which have been raised and which I consider of importance. Two or three Senators raised the importance of the creation of an air feeder service from our principal airports to the regional airports. This is of vital importance. I have had discussions with various interests. They feel that it would be a marvellous selling strategy to be able to offer to continental and American tourists air transport from their home base to their holiday destination. This has tremendous potential. I am arranging for discussions with a number of interested parties.
The matter of school holidays as it affects the home holiday situation is very important. Many parents in the holiday situation are governed by the school holiday or the work holiday. I have arranged for discussions with both the Departments of Labour and Education to see what success, if any, can be achieved in setting a holiday structure that might form a better pattern to cater for a wider number of Irish holiday parents. This would be particularly true of the primary school holidays which are confined exclusively to July and August. Outside these two months many parents, and possibly their families, would wish to have enjoyable holidays, possibly at less cost in so far as they would not be engaged in the peak season.
I have had a number of discussions with the Minister for Education on the matter of children and parents opting for a holiday in the Gaeltacht area during the months of June or September and what relaxation would be provided for within the school regulations. I believe there are many parents who would wish to go to the Gaeltacht — some of which are the primary holiday centres — during these months not only to have a relaxing holiday but also to have the facility to advance the national language in the case of their family. The Minister has indicated quite clearly that it is the responsibility of the parents who desire to take their children on holiday in June or September and there is no departmental incumbrance. The whole aspect of holidays would require to be looked at as an expanding basis for the shoulder period of the tourist season.
A number of points were made about the utilisation of the larger rather than the smaller hotels. The package dealing for the top hotels is organised at the behest of the Americans. This is what they want. We are lucky that we have these facilities for them. This does not, in any way, militate against the opportunities which are there for the other promoters. Only last week we had the town and country homes representatives in the United States, who were there at Bord Fáilte well organised workshops, set up to sell their own and doing a magnificent job because they have a wonderful structure in accommodation, price and standard to sell. We have to have a facility — if we are going to cater for the future of Irish tourism — to meet every budget. This means from the highest level of affluence down to the ordinary town and country homes, the ordinary farm guesthouses and the small family owned guesthouse. There is a structure, there is a facility, and there is a tourist for all.
Reference was made in relation to the licensing laws. The licensing laws are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice. He is undertaking an examination of the situation and has given an assurance that both the restaurant licences and the extended hours for licensing, will be law on a limited basis in 1986. Senator Cassidy made the point that there were adequate facilities within the hotels. Only 17 per cent of the tourists coming into Ireland stay in hotels; 83 per cent stay in the wide category of structures which are there. Those people require the ordinary bar in the west as a facility and I believe some extensions are required.
I conclude by thanking Senators and the members of the Oireachtas committee for their comprehensive report and discussion. It is very important and it is proper that we should have it at the end of a year when we have had record numbers of overseas visitors and a record revenue to our economy from tourism.
Is the motion agreed?
Since this is a Government motion I take it you have no objection if I exercise my right to reply. I do not want to enter into the substance of the points that have been made. These have been very adequately dealt with by the Minister of State. We should thank him for the frank manner of his reply and for the work he has been doing for tourism.
In concluding the debate, I congratulate this House. We have had, I understand, 21 speakers on this important topic. This is an excellent illustration of the opportunity that is afforded to this House by the system of joint committees of the Oireachtas in order to discuss various important points of policy. To have had a debate stretching over several weeks in which we have had over one-third of the membership of the Seanad contributing is an indication that the discussion of such reports is now an established part of the Seanad procedure. I want to thank the Members of the Seanad from all parts of the House who have taken part in this excellent, non-partisan debate which we have had on the subject of tourism policy.
Question put and agreed to.