I remind members that we have been invited to the Ceann Comhairle's office at 5.30 p.m. where the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, will unveil a new painting. I understand it is a painting of the flight of the earls from Rathmullan and that the painter responsible will be present. It is a replacement for a painting in the Ceann Comhairle's office which was removed for an exhibition.
Vote 35 — National Gallery (Revised).
Perhaps the committee should suspend. Half an hour is an inadequate amount of time in which to discuss such major Estimates.
On the last occasion on which the Estimates were considered the Minister was followed by the Opposition spokespersons who were each allocated ten minutes. The Minister then concluded the debate. While the finishing time can be pushed to 5.45 p.m., the problem is that the Ceann Comhairle will return to the Chair thereafter.
In that case, the Minister should be invited to appear before the committee.
The Minister and his officials who are welcome have been waiting since 4.30 p.m., the time when this process was due to begin. The Minister has come before the select committee to present the Votes for the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism and the National Gallery. As members have been invited to attend the launch by the Minister at 5.30 p.m., we have made contact with the Ceann Comhairle's office to inquire whether it can be pushed back to 5.45 p.m. That may facilitate completion of this process in one tranche. I invite the Minister to make his presentation. Thereafter, Opposition spokespersons will have ten minutes each. I will then call the Minister to reply.
Before I make my formal presentation to the Chairman and members of the committee, I wish to introduce the departmental officials who have accompanied me here this afternoon. They are Mr. Philip Furlong, Secretary General of the Department; Mr. Con Haugh, assistant secretary with responsibility for sport; Mr. Paul Bates, assistant secretary with responsibility for tourism; Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú, assistant secretary with responsibility for arts and culture; and Mr. Joe Timbs, finance officer.
I am pleased to present the 2006 Estimates for my ministerial Vote group and have this opportunity to meet the committee to discuss the Estimates for my Department, the National Gallery and associated matters. The Department has overall responsibility for the formulation of public policy on the promotion and development of the arts, sport and tourism sectors. I wish to outline for each of these sectors the major developments for which provision has been made in the Estimates.
I wish to refer to the B subheads of the Vote which make provision for expenditure of approximately €140 million on tourism services across a diverse range of activities. This constitutes an increase of 13% on the provision for 2005.
Subhead B.1 comprises an allocation of slightly more than €75 million in non-capital funding to Fáilte Ireland to meet its administration and general expenses in 2006. These include pay, overheads and other administrative costs; advertising and printed publicity; marketing and promotional activities; and the subvention to the regions. The subhead also covers the costs of recruitment, training and development of staff and enterprises in the tourism industry, as well as supporting a range of tourism initiatives such as the international sports tourism initiative and the festivals and cultural events initiative. The subhead further contains a provision for Exchequer Voted capital of €2.8 million for the upgrading of premises and tourism amenity projects.
Subhead B.2 provides a sum of €18.7 million towards the pay and operating costs of Tourism Ireland. The all-Ireland marketing company is implementing its second three year corporate plan which seeks to deliver on the key tourism marketing policy objectives and targets set out in the New Horizons report on Irish tourism. Through 2006 Tourism Ireland intends to build its organisational capacity in a number of vital areas such as e-marketing and new developing markets. Tourism Ireland is an excellent example of the benefits to be derived from adopting an all-island approach to economic co-operation. It has proven to be an effective champion for the marketing of the island as an international tourism destination in close co-operation with the tourism trade, North and South.
I take this opportunity to welcome Ms Maria Eagle as the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office who has assumed responsibility for the tourism and arts brief. I look forward to working with her.
Under subhead B.3, provision has been made for the allocation of €810,000 to Shannon Development to meet general administration costs associated with tourism promotion and development of the mid-west region. The Exchequer provision for the tourism marketing fund in subhead B.4 has increased from a figure of €18 million in 2000 to €40 million in 2006. This fund provides the Southern contribution to Tourism Ireland's core marketing programme. It also provides funding for Fáilte Ireland for its international product marketing programmes, as well as its consumer and trade promotions, publicity, market research and development. For 2006 I secured almost €5 million extra for this subhead to strengthen and enhance the marketing programmes of both agencies.
Under subhead B.5, a provision of €3 million will be made available to support tourism product development in 2006. Significant progress has been achieved under the current European Regional Development Fund and Exchequer supported tourism product development scheme. To date, full grant approvals amounting to €40.7 million have been made in respect of 57 projects nationwide. A further €2 million will be made available under the subhead by way of deferred surrender of savings from the 2005 capital allocation towards the construction of the Irish Seal Sanctuary marine conservation centre in north Dublin.
The tourism industry is now Ireland's largest internationally traded services sector. The number of overseas visitors in 2005 is estimated at 6.9 million, which constitutes and increase of 6.1 % on the figure for 2004. These visitors generated almost €4.3 billion in foreign exchange earnings. Together with a projected €1 billion income generated by tourism spending by Irish residents, Irish tourism is now estimated to be worth €5.3 billion annually.
While full year figures are not available for the domestic market, CSO figures for the first nine months of 2005 show a 7% increase in the number of home holidays taken in comparison to the same period in 2004. As global competition intensifies and consumer preferences evolve, these results represent a robust performance by the sector and confirm the dynamism and responsiveness of the tourism sector.
The year 2005 proved to be a good one for access development. For the second consecutive year there was a sharp increase in direct scheduled air capacity to and from continental Europe. It increased by a massive 40%, or 31,000 more seats than in the previous summer. This year looks set to continue this trend, with further growth anticipated, and an estimated 51,000 additional air seats available each week during the summer. I see no reason 2006 cannot be another successful year for Irish tourism, in which we can achieve our target of 5% growth in visitor numbers, with an associated increase of 6.7% in revenue earnings.
Last December I launched Tourism Ireland's new communications strategy, the third iteration of Tourism Brand Ireland. This is a €50 million, three year global advertising campaign which is funded on a 2:1 South-North basis. This year will see almost €14 million spent in rolling out the campaign which will aim to reach an estimated audience of 200 million worldwide. The new advertising campaign, the third generation of such campaigns, will ensure increased visibility and awareness of the new consumer website, DiscoverIreland.com. The site which I launched in March is being rolled out in 27 markets worldwide in 14 languages.
I am conscious that in reporting on the overall improvement in tourism performance at national level in 2005, not all regions, or sectors, benefited equally. This year Fáilte Ireland will invest more than €60 million in supporting regional tourism, from local festivals to building capability and strengthening the tourism product. The authority will channel approximately €10 million of this sum directly into the regional tourism companies to strengthen and enhance their operational and marketing capabilities.
Both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland will continue to roll out a number of innovative schemes in 2006 which should heighten the regional impact of Ireland's marketing activities, both nationally and overseas. The super regions initiative launched in February is one such scheme. In recognition of the importance of home holidays at regional level, Fáilte Ireland will invest €4 million to sustain the recent remarkable growth in the home market. Tourism Ireland will invest an estimated €5 million in 2006 specifically to support the promotion of the regions of Ireland overseas and will engage in additional co-operative marketing with all regions.
There has been a major reform of Irish tourism structures in recent years with the setting up of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. Reform of the function, role and operational structure of regional tourism is the third and final leg of that reform process. At the end of July last, l authorised Fáilte lreland to proceed with the proposed revision of regional tourism structures on the basis of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Travers reports.
To assist this process, Fáilte Ireland set up an implementation group under the chairmanship of Finbarr Flood, which has now reported. I also understand that Fáilte Ireland has begun the process of gearing up its own internal structures to line up with the proposed new structures at regional level. A due diligence process with each of the regional tourism authorities is almost complete. Fáilte Ireland has advised me that it expects that the changes will be implemented in the regions by the end of the summer.
ln November 2005, I announced that, following approval by the Government, Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium was designated as the provisional preferred tenderer for the provision of a national conference centre in Dublin. ln accordance with the competition process, the contracting authority — the Office of Public Works — proceeded to engage with the provisional preferred tenderer to negotiate, settle and agree any required amendments to the project agreement. These detailed and complex negotiations are, by their nature, time consuming but I understand that the contracting authority is pressing to have them concluded as soon as possible.
I look forward to the timely completion of the next stages and hope to be in a position to bring the matter to Government for final decision in the coming months. Subject to the successful completion of the remaining stages of the procurement process and assuming no unexpected developments, I hope that construction of the national conference centre will begin next year and that the centre will be operational during 2009.
When the Government took office in 1997, the budget for sport amounted to approximately €17 million. This year investment in sport by my Department, including both the amount allocated to the horse and greyhound racing sectors and the authorised capital carryover from 2005, stands at approximately €243 million. This high level of funding will enable many major proposals to become a reality.
Subhead C1 of my Department's Vote provides funding of over €67 million for grants for sports bodies and for the provision of capital sports and recreational facilities, including €5 million by way of deferred surrender of unspent 2005 capital allocations. The vast majority of payments made under this subhead relate to grants allocated under the sports capital programme. The sports capital programme already dovetails with the local authority swimming pool programme and national facilities funded, such as the National Aquatic Centre, the redeveloped Croke Park and the current work programme for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, to improve the sporting infrastructure of the country.
The sports capital programme helps to provide facilities at local, regional and national level. Since 1998, a total of €395 million has been allocated to 4,923 sports capital projects across the country. The programme is open not only to sporting organisations but to voluntary and community organisations that promote projects with a sporting focus. The majority of projects funded under the programme are at local level, which provides a boost to the massive and often unheralded efforts of the volunteers who keep clubs and projects afloat, allowing them to fund new or improved facilities. Since 1998, virtually every town, village and parish in the country has benefited in some way from sports capital funding provided by the Government to help develop or improve pitches, playing surfaces, dressing rooms, showers and floodlighting or to provide a range of sports equipment.
My Department recently received 1,338 applications under the 2006 sports capital programme. These are in the final stages of assessment and I will announce provisional grant allocations under the 2006 programme in the near future. Under subhead C.2, an amount of €22.8 million has been allocated to the local authority swimming pool programme, representing an increase of over 62% on last year's outturn of €14.1 million. However, to this subhead provision must be added a further €9.5 million capital carryover from 2005, bringing the overall total provision of the pool programme this year to €32.3 million.
Under the programme, grants of up to €3.8 million are made available towards either the refurbishment of existing swimming pools or for the provision of a new pool, subject, in both cases, to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project — 90% for projects located in disadvantaged areas. A total of 57 projects have or are being dealt with under the current programme. A total of 32 projects have been allocated grant aid, 19 of which have been opened or have completed construction and 13 of which are under construction. In addition, seven projects are at tender stage, ten projects are at contract documents stage and eight projects are at preliminary report stage. While actual expenditure under the programme in 2005 was disappointing owing to the slower than anticipated level of grant claims from local authorities, activity under the programme has been increasing. This is evidenced by the fact that in 2005, I approved grant aid for five projects in Monaghan town, Ballybunion, Clondalkin, Killarney and Askeaton; contract documents for eight projects; and the preliminary reports of ten projects.
So far in 2006, I have approved tender reports and grant aid of €3.8 million each towards the cost of public swimming pool projects in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Longford. ln addition, I have approved contract documents for five projects — Birr in County Offaly, Naas in County Kildare, Claremorris in County Mayo, St Michael's House in Dublin and, most recently, the contract documents for a pool project in Kilkenny city. These projects may now go to tender. Consequently, there are now 13 swimming pool projects under construction and a further 12 will commence construction over the next nine months or so. Currently, my Department is undertaking an expenditure review of the local authority swimming pool programme. I expect that this review will be completed by mid-year and at that time, I will decide on the question of reopening the programme for new applications.
The lrish Sports Council was established in 1999 as the statutory body responsible for the promotion and development of sport in lreland, with total funding of €13.2 million in 2000, which was its first full year of operation. It spent more than €34 million in 2005 on initiating, developing and enhancing a wide range of programmes aimed at increasing participation and raising standards in Irish sport. A total of €40,914 million has been allocated in subhead C.3 to the council for 2006, which will ensure the continuation of its work in advancing and supporting sport at all levels in Ireland. The additional funding in 2006, a 19% increase on the 2005 allocation, provides for continued support and enhancement of the new initiatives introduced in 2005. The new additional funding also includes €1.5 million, on top of €750,000 provided in 2005, for programmes to attract more women into sport; €1 million, on top of the current €2 million, to the FAI towards the implementation of its technical development plan; funding to enable the extension of the network of local sports partnerships; the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Athens Olympics review, including the establishment of an Irish institute of sport; and supporting the development of hurling and camogie countrywide and the development of Gaelic games in Dublin.
Subhead C.4 contains a provision of €10.798 million, comprising a capital allocation for the sports campus at Abbotstown and a current allocation providing for the running costs of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, the company established to develop and manage the project. With regard to the sports campus project, members will be aware that in November 2005, the Government gave its assent to the commencement of phase one of the project. This phase has a four to five-year delivery schedule and has been costed at €119 million. I am delighted to be able to say that the development of modem sports facilities at Abbotstown is now under way. This will include pitches and support facilities for the major field sports — rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey. An indoor sports centre with spectator accommodation for 1,500 persons will be provided to cater for a range of indoor sports. CSID has already commenced the process of delivering the project. It is my intention to have facilities up and running at Abbotstown as a priority to benefit Irish sportspersons and also to host visiting athletes as they train for the 2012 London Olympics.
Under subhead C.5, €20 million has been set aside in 2006 for the Lansdowne Road stadium redevelopment project, which is currently going through the planning process. ln January 2006, the planning application for the project was submitted by the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, LRSDC, the company charged with delivery of the project. The planning process is now taking its course and I am optimistic of a favourable outcome. It is not possible to estimate the length of time that will be required to complete the planning process and an appeal to An Bord Pleanála cannot be ruled out. Up to the present, the project has proceeded on schedule. l wish to reaffirm the Government's commitment to the project and its decision to provide €191 million towards the estimated cost of €365 million. I am confident that the end of 2009 will see the completion of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium, which would cater for the international rugby and soccer fixtures of the IRFU and the FAI.
Since this committee debated the Estimates for 2005, the GAA has reached agreement with the IRFU and the FAI in respect of the holding of rugby and soccer internationals in Croke Park in 2007. I warmly welcome the mature and progressive manner in which this agreement has been reached and I encourage the three organisations to continue to show generosity of sport in their dealings with one another on this historic agreement.
Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the horse and greyhound racing fund, as approved by the Oireachtas. Under the provisions of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, the fund receives a guaranteed level of finance based on the excise duty on off-course betting. A total of €68.35 million was provided under the fund in 2005, of which €54.84 million was allocated to current expenditure and €13.51 million to capital programmes. In 2004, the Oireachtas approved regulations to increase the limit of the fund from €254 million to €550 million and to continue the fund for a further four years to 2008. A total of €70.06 million has been provided for the fund in 2006, of which Horse Racing Ireland receives 80%, with Bord na gCon receiving 20%. This unprecedented level of investment in sport is clear evidence of the importance which the Government attaches to the putting in place of modern, well equipped and well managed sports facilities supported by a wide range of programmes which are bringing real benefit to our communities.
Subhead D.7 is a new subhead providing for the distribution of grants to minority sports which are particularly popular among young people in disadvantaged areas under the economic and social disadvantage strand of dormant accounts funding. The provision of €1.5 million this year follows the Government's approval on 30 November 2005 of proposals for the allocation of the €24 million in funding set aside in 2006 by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
While the detail of the grants scheme has not yet been finalised, it will likely involve an invitation to clubs active in certain sports, such as boxing, gymnastics and martial arts, to apply for small grants to cover expenditure for personal equipment and costs associated with creating new opportunities for young people in disadvantaged areas to participate in sport, for example, hire of hall and insurance costs. The final details of the administration of the scheme are being worked out between my Department and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
I will now deal with the arts, culture and film sectors, starting with the provisions being made for the national cultural institutions. I have provided specific funding under subhead D.8 to enable the National Museum to embark upon a full exhibition programme that includes the 1916 90th anniversary exhibition at Collins Barracks, a postal exhibition, an early Christian Ireland exhibition and an Iron Age exhibition in the Kildare Street facility. I have facilitated a conservation programme for natural history specimens in the Natural History Museum. I have also provided funding for the museum to provide two temporary exhibitions in the new riding school exhibition facility in Collins Barracks. I have provided €2.5 million for the fit-out of the National Museum of Ireland's military history exhibition, which will open later this year in Collins Barracks.
The 2006 allocation includes a provision in subhead D.9 to permit the National Library of Ireland to host a major W. B. Yeats exhibition this year. The library will continue its works in the areas of collection, development and conservation. I am pleased that the subhead D.3 allocation takes account of the increased storage costs imposed on the Irish Museum of Modern Art following the decision to redevelop facilities previously used by the gallery on John's Road. It also enables the gallery to pursue its exhibitions policy. In addition, I have provided additional resources for the National Concert Hall in recognition of its 25th anniversary at Earlsfort Terrace and provided funding for the conservation of its major concert organ.
Arising from the Government's decision to designate the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork, as a national cultural institution, last week I announced the establishment of a new board for the gallery. The establishment of a national cultural institution in Cork indicates the Government's commitment to the regions and reinforces its national spatial strategy. I also welcome the reopening of the Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square.
The major archival project dealing with the digitisation of the 1901-11 censuses is provided for in subhead D.4 and amounts to €1.1 million in 2006. I am pleased that progress has already been made in the three-year programme, which will see the complete census material available on-line. The subhead also contains provision in the sum of €200,000 for the initial phase of the conservation of the Asgard.
The 2006 allocation under subhead D.4 also includes a provision of €1 million to meet commitments associated with the successful Beckett Centenary Festival. Last year, I announced the establishment of two groups to plan and deliver a world class programme of events and productions to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Samuel Beckett, focusing on April 2006. In the words of the Nobel Foundation, Samuel Beckett was recognised during his time "for his writing, which — in new forms for the novel and drama — in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation", I was aware that a worldwide series of events was planned during the course of 2006 encompassing many countries and genres and I wanted Ireland to be to the fore in celebrating the life and work of one of its most talented sons.
Deputies will recall the centenary celebrations for Joyce's Bloomsday in 2004. I was very keen to build on that success for cultural and tourism reasons. I was also keen to build on the success of the Beckett festivals in Dublin in 1991, New York in 1996 and London in 1999 organised by the Gate Theatre and of which I had heard. Therefore, I established the Beckett Centenary Council to oversee the financial allocation to and artistic direction of a centenary programme and to advise me on the allocation of Government funding to support the programme of events.
The council's remit was to seek to ensure the delivery of a quality cultural experience that could be enjoyed domestically and marketed abroad by the tourism agencies. The members of the Beckett Centenary Council were Mr. Philip Furlong, chairman of the council and Secretary General of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. Edward Beckett, nephew of the Nobel laureate, Ms Mary Cloake, director of the Arts Council, Mr. Michael Colgan, director of the Gate Theatre, Mr. Cathal Goan, director general of RTE, and Mr. John Hegarty, provost of Trinity College, Beckett's alma mater.
A major strand of the council's work was the production of nine of Beckett's plays at the Gate Theatre, itself synonymous with Beckett. The entire national programme contained more than 60 separate strands, including poetry and prose readings, film screenings, music, television and radio productions, major visual arts exhibitions and significant education and academic contributions.
Highlights of the centenary programme were the issuing of special commemorative gold €20 and silver €10 coins by the Central Bank, the establishment of a Beckett fellowship at Trinity College and the Trinity College Dublin symposium. The Trinity College Dublin library hosted an exhibition of manuscripts from its outstanding collection of Beckett material and Dublin City Council encouraged families to go to the city centre and participate in the festival. To this end, the city council provided, for example, flags and special Beckett banners along the quays and in the city centre.
An exhibition by Kathy Prendergast was held in the Douglas Hyde Gallery's main gallery space and work from other artists relating to Beckett was exhibited in the smaller gallery space. A wonderful schedule of nine Beckett plays was performed at the Gate Theatre. "Waiting for Godot," "End Game" and "Krapp's Last Tape" headlined the programme. In addition, the Gate Theatre held a series of poetry and prose performances by well-known actors for the festival.
The National Photographic Archive, which is part of the National Library of Ireland, hosted an exhibition of photographs taken of Beckett by John Minihan. Similarly, the library hosted an audio-visual library of Beckett performances, which is open to the public free of charge, in its heraldic museum on Kildare Street. "I, Not I", a classic Beckettian reference, is the title of the Royal Hibernian Academy's show of artwork by Bruce Nauman and Philip Guston. The Irish Film Institute devoted much of April to Beckett. An exhibition of works by artists in Beckett's circle has opened in the National Gallery of Ireland. Foremost among the artists included is Jack B. Yeats, Beckett's lifelong friend.
RTE made a significant commitment to Beckett in the areas of radio and television. Key events included the launch of a new compact disc production of the trilogy read by Barry McGovern, the broadcast of a documentary by Kate Minogue on Beckett in Paris, the broadcast of a documentary by a Swiss programme-maker named Jean-Claude Kuner on Beckett in five different languages and the broadcast of Beckett's seven radio plays and extensive coverage by "Rattlebag".
If the population in general is to have access to the arts, it must have venues and facilities where this can occur. As such, my Department has invested heavily in arts facilities in virtually every area of the country in recent years. Under the ACCESS scheme, €45.7 million has been allocated to 44 arts and cultural facilities, including theatres, museums and multipurpose arts centres. Taken together, they can make a real difference to popular participation in and access to the arts. I hope to make an announcement soon about a successor to the ACCESS programme, which would build on the undeniable achievements of the existing scheme.
As well as providing support for the development of cultural space infrastructure at local and community level, I am committing resources to building up our national cultural infrastructure. The Government has allocated €26 million for the redevelopment of the Theatre Royal in Wexford, which is the home of the successful and internationally significant Wexford Festival Opera. An amount of €1 million for the refurbishment of the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin is also provided. This will ensure the continued availability in the capital of a venue for large-scale operatic productions. While decisions on some of the detailed modalities remain, plans are well advanced for the redevelopment of the National Theatre at George's Dock on a site provided by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
I am also pleased to inform the committee that the Government has approved the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall at its existing location at Earlsfort Terrace. Arrangements for the transfer of ownership of the site from the UCD authorities to the State on agreed terms are at an advanced stage. This will clear the way for the procurement of the new NCH following the completion of an assessment of the project's economic impact.
Culture Ireland, the national agency I established for the promotion of Irish arts and artists in the international arena, has just completed its first year in operation. Funding for Culture Ireland was €2 million in 2005, which increased by 50% in 2006. The 2006 allocation of €3 million will enable it to make considerable progress in fulfilling its mission to advance Irish arts abroad, create new opportunities for Irish cultural practitioners and lead to a deeper understanding between Irish and other cultures and communities.
The Arts Council, as the State agency under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for the promotion and development of the arts in Ireland, has been allocated €72.31 million in 2006. This represents an increase of 18.5% on the original 2005 allocation of €61 million. Funding for the Arts Council has increased by a total of 38% in just two years. This built on earlier increases of approximately 80% between 1997 and 2002.
Even in times of prosperity, these are significant increases and they have not come about by accident. They reflect and illustrate the degree of this Government's commitment to the arts and my personal conviction that the arts must become central to our society and finally be recognised as a critical part of what makes a society complete and healthy. These increases will transform the level and variety of artistic activity taking place throughout the country and will bring many more people into contact with the arts.
The 2006 Estimates provide the necessary resources for the Irish Film Board to fulfil its remit of the promotion of an indigenous film industry in Ireland and for marketing Ireland abroad as a location for film-making. The primary activity of the board is to provide development and production finance for Irish film projects, including feature, documentary, and animation. The board also acts in co-operation with other State agencies to support the marketing, sales and distribution of Irish films and to promote training and development in all areas of film-making. The 2006 Estimate for my Department allocates a total of €17.126 million in respect of the administrative and general pay and non-pay expenses of the Irish Film Board and for the provision of development and production loans to the independent film and television production sector. This represents an increase of some 18% on the original 2005 allocation of €13.950 million.
The section 481 scheme continues to offer film producers an essential source of funds for their projects. In 2005, 28 such projects were certified. To date in 2006, eight projects have been certified. In the context of strong international competition, I am pleased to have obtained the approval of the Minister for Finance for significant improvements in the section 481 tax incentive scheme, which have been provided for in the Finance Act 2006. They are subject to the approval of the European Commission in the normal way. These changes will increase the maximum amount that can be raised under section 481 from €15 million to €35 million. In addition, up to 80% of the budget can now be raised, instead of the previous limit of between 55% and 66%. These changes will enhance the attraction of Ireland as a location for film productions. Together with the improved resources available to the Irish Film Board, the enhancements to the scheme will greatly enhance the attractiveness of Ireland as a filming location.
The arts, sport and tourism ministerial Vote group also includes the separate Vote for the National Gallery of Ireland, Vote 33. The allocation for the National Gallery in 2006 is €9.439 million, of which just over €8 million is to meet general administration costs such as salaries, wages, travel, consultancy services, office supplies, etc. Programme spending accounts for the balance of the allocation. The bulk of this spending is to fund acquisitions and conservation activity by the gallery, for which €1.26 million has been set aside, similar to last year's provision of €1.227 million.
l commend the Estimates to the committee and I will be happy to provide any additional information or clarifications that members may need.
The Minister will return before the committee to discuss the Abbotstown Bill and for the Olympic report.
I welcome the Minister and his officials. I recognise the progress that has been made and I appreciate the commitment, approachable nature and availability of officials in the Department. While tourism numbers are increasing, we must examine the facts behind the figures. The ITIC report on tourism from 1999-2004 showed an increase of 3 million bed nights in Dublin to 7.5 million but a decrease of 2.5 bed nights outside Dublin. This demonstrates the major regional disparity in tourism. The activities that attract people to rural areas, such as fishing, walking, golf, cycling and equestrian activities, have decreased since 2000. These were the activities that drew people to bed and breakfast accommodation across the country and this decrease seems to be part of a downward trend. Another worrying trend is the outward flow of funds. Irish people spend €500 million abroad more than incoming tourists in this country, a net outflow of €500 million. Why are more and more Irish people travelling abroad? Reasons include the desire for sun and the extra money we have at our disposal but there must be fundamental reasons tourism here is not comparable to tourism in the Canaries, Portugal, the Algarve and throughout Europe.
The only way one can make profits in a hotel is by selling food and bed nights. Stealth charges over the past ten years are the reason operators must charge so much for food and beds. This is the reason for the increase in cost of operation and the lack of competitiveness in tourism. Discounting can only go on for so long. This morning "The Tubridy Show" highlighted the case of two people who paid €64 for breakfast. I visited the Canaries at Easter, where VAT is 5%, compared to 13.5% in Ireland. VAT does not fall within the Minister's brief but Ireland must address costs if we wish to attract tourists to this country.
The US and Canadian market was very important for Ballybunion and Waterville because so many visitors from there play golf. Last year, despite the increase in tourists from Europe and Britain, the number of tourists from the US and Canada decreased by 24,000. I hope the Ryder Cup will restore the numbers this year. Information provided by the US Consulate warned visitors to Ireland to be careful and referred to incidents of bag snatching. I have extensive contacts in the US and a number of people there contacted me and asked if this was true.
The concept known as "pure tourism" refers to those who come to Ireland for a week or two and the numbers in this category have decreased. Visitors come for short stays, on business trips and to visit family but the number of tourists frequenting bed and breakfast accommodation and hotels in Killarney is decreasing. The Irish Hotels Federation of Ireland stated that the increase last year was a mere 15,000. This is quite low if one wishes to sustain a tourism industry that is heavily in debt. Most operators are in debt up to their tonsils and need income to repay the bank. We are fortunate that interest rates are low at present because there would be casualties otherwise.
I welcome the Minister's initiative to reform the Regional Tourism Authorities, RTAs, a measure for which I had called. The Minister referred to the new role of the RTAs. What budget will they receive and what will be their role? Regional authorities have been founded for other purposes under the EU operational programme but I do not see a significant role for them. Fáilte Ireland will co-ordinate marketing for Ireland but the Minister should place more emphasis on county identity and pride to act as a catalyst for local tourism product development and infrastructural development. Local authorities have a major role to play in tourism with regard to road structure, signposts and providing water services for hotels. The local authority and the tourism industry can be a strong force for the development of tourism across Ireland. Tourism bodies already exist but are not given sufficient funds to be effective. The typical tourist stayed 7.7 nights in 2000 but just seven nights in 2005, a worrying trend.
I welcome the increase in funding for sports and recreational facilities during the Minister's time. I remind him that the national lottery did not start in 1998. Mr. Con Haugh was involved in establishing it in the mid-1980s when Fine Gael and the Labour Party were in power. I take great pride in the fact that my party not alone established the State but also established the national lottery which has proven to be extremely effective in providing facilities throughout the country.
I appeal to the Minister to prioritise any application received this year which involves a club co-operating with a school to provide a facility at or near a school. I recently conducted a survey of primary schools. Some 1,400 responded, of which only 23% had a sports hall. Of these, only 10% had a sports hall larger than two badminton courts. As a former PE teacher, I know that while a small sports hall is welcome, it is difficult to do anything in it. Few schools have proper facilities. If children do not become involved in sports at primary level, they will not do so at secondary level. As every child goes to primary school, that is where talent must be identified and when the value of fitness, health and good habits must be inculcated in youngsters.
My club in Finuge installed solar panels in the clubhouse. Because of the scarcity and cost of oil, national lottery provision should be made for the inclusion of solar panels in clubs which provide facilities. The Minister is aware that Ballybunion swimming pool is also considering installing such panels. We are discussing in the Dáil a motion on alternative sources of energy. Here is an example where it could be used effectively and efficiently. I publicly acknowledge the input the Minister has made in the pool in Ballybunion. I have often stated that if we did not have a Minister from County Kerry, we would still not have a pool in Ballybunion. Work has started and it is hoped it will be ready for the season after this. The Minister's officials, particularly Mr. Haugh, are extremely helpful.
The Deputy has spoken for 12 minutes.
I will intrude, as I waited so long.
The Irish Sports Council was established on a non-statutory basis in 1997 by Deputy Allen and is headed by Mr. John Treacy. The establishment of a national institute of sport is critical. I have asked about this for some time and know provision has been made. It would make a major impact. It was prioritised by the committee in our report on looking forward to the Beijing and London Olympic Games. It is vital that it goes ahead. I have pointed out and requested that it be based in Limerick because of the infrastructure available there.
Regarding the horse and greyhound racing fund, will the Minister state when the famous Dalton report will be published? I went to a great deal of trouble to think through and publish the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill. One can examine the records to see I introduced it in the mid-1990s when I had ministerial responsibility. I strongly believe an independent control group should be in place. I appeal to the Minister's pragmatism to accept the Bill or its principle.
Regarding the Beckett centenary celebrations, I acknowledge the Minister's work and input, particularly the work of Mr. Philip Furlong as chairman. It was extremely effective and made a major impact. The Minister listed all of the events which took place, which were extremely Dublin-centred. We had an extremely good weekend in Tarbert, County Kerry. Mr. Tom MacGreevy who was the director of the National Gallery from 1950 to 1963 was a Tarbert man and had a major influence on Beckett. I appreciate the fact that the Minister provided the necessary funding for the event in the town.
We must finish. We were to be in the Ceann Comhairle's office at 5.30 p.m. It is now 5.45 p.m. and I want to allow other members to speak.
I will finish. I have a view on this issue which I take seriously.
Ten minutes were assigned and there is a mannerly way of asking for more time.
I asked at the beginning.
The Deputy made comments which were not particularly mannerly.
When?
A couple of seconds ago when I told him that 12 minutes had been used.
What did I say?
The Deputy stated he had waited long enough and that he would keep going for as long as he wanted.
Absolutely. I did not state I wanted to keep going. I stated I wanted to finish.
I acknowledge the improvement of incentives for film-making. However, it involves a lead-in time of approximately 18 months. People are now working on films to be made after 2008 and need to know what will happen to section 481. It would be helpful if the Minister provided the certainty they need that the section will be extended after 2008.
Regarding the National Gallery, as I stated, there is a Kerry connection through Mr.MacGreevy. A major proposal has been made for a renovation project in the historic parts of the National Gallery built in 1854 and 1920. The Minister funded projects at the Abbey Theatre, the National Concert Hall and in Wexford. This project will cost approximately €30 million. Has the Minister made provision for work to begin next year?
I welcome the Minister and thank him for the statement he made. It gives us grounds for many parliamentary questions. I thank his officials, Mr. Philip Furlong, Mr. Con Haugh and others, for all the help they have given us in the past year.
The regional spread of tourism is one of the most important aspects of the Minister's statement on tourism. We have heard the death knell for bed and breakfast establishments in rural Ireland. There is grave concern outside the Pale about the future of tourism. I hope the initiative taken is spread throughout the country and that we see improvements through the extra funding provided. It will be interesting to see what effect it has. We still have the problem that Dublin is an attraction for weekend visits by tourists. Perhaps this initiative will lead to Irish people visiting other parts of the country, not just the capital.
Hosting the Ryder Cup makes this an important year for County Kildare. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have made great strides in preparing for it. They are working with the local authority and Oireachtas Members to ensure the event is a success. Obviously it has the ongoing effect of creating new initiatives in the context of what might be a once-off event. It will have major benefits in attracting the American golf tourist to Ireland. Many of the clubs in Kildare and its hinterland have taken the initiative of preparing packages that will give visitors three or four courses to play over a week at reduced rates. That is to be welcomed and highlighted.
One hopes that overpricing will not occur during the period of the competition. I have heard ridiculous figures being mentioned for the leasing of family homes and so forth. One hopes that bad publicity arising from such activities, which can cause concerns for tourist activists in the Department and in Fáilte Ireland, will not detract from this enormous event, which will be of benefit to tourism in general, golfing tourism in particular and County Kildare.
I welcome the advances made to date with regard to Abbotstown. A considerable number of sports organisations will benefit greatly from the development. However, I have grave concerns regarding the Lansdowne Road stadium. I support the work of the associations and the Department but opposition from local people, who will be put under extreme pressure by the development of the stadium, cannot be underestimated. Perhaps the associations can do more for the residents in the area, a number of whom have contacted me expressing serious concerns about the proposed development. They are not opposed to it per se, but are worried about the way it will affect their daily lives. The Minister has said that the proposal may have to go before An Bord Pleanála and I do not see how that can be avoided if local residents are to be facilitated, unless the associations themselves can address their concerns directly.
I ask the Minister to draw the attention of the Irish Sports Council to a problem that has come to light with regard to the grants the organisation issues to athletes. Where grants are made available to athletes who are unemployed, their benefit is reduced considerably because said athletes cannot sign on for unemployment assistance while in receipt of moneys from the council. This is a catch-22, where a grant is given with the best of intentions but social welfare payments are cancelled as a result. Athletes are deemed not to be available for work because of their training commitments. Perhaps the Department and the Irish Sports Council can work together to address this particular problem. It is causing difficulties for some athletes, particularly a number of boxers I know, of whose achievements we should be proud.
I welcome the announcement by the Minister concerning the use of dormant accounts funds. He made reference to some minority sports but I presume that other sports organisations not listed in his statement will also benefit from those funds. If not, I hope the list can be expanded to include other sports.
While we will have an opportunity, during Question Time in the Dáil and by way of parliamentary questions, to obtain further information from the Minister on certain matters, I wish to refer briefly to the Irish Film Board at this point. I hope that the grants issued by the board towards film development and production costs will be increased. Such grants allow young entrepreneurs in the film industry to develop their talents and some eventually become very successful. Development grants provide vital assistance in the early stages of people's film careers.
I have said on numerous occasions in the Dáil that all Members know of clubs and organisations in their local areas that have benefited from national lottery funding. However, we should examine the possibility that lottery funding could provide expertise to ensure that the new facilities developed are used to the utmost benefit of local communities. Unfortunately there has been a decline in voluntarism and perhaps we should examine the possibility of providing funding for mentors and managers to make sure that facilities are used to their full potential.
Before I return to the Minister I wish to acknowledge and express my gratitude for the funding provided for the Celtic maritime festival, an innovative project involving North-South co-operation. While the amount of money involved is small, the project will have very a positive impact on the region. I am delighted that product development funding has been approved but there are some areas of the country which would benefit more than others from such funding. I also welcome the sports lotto because it will have a very beneficial effect on the entire country.
I am aware that the Minister was expected in the Ceann Comhairle's office at 5.30 p.m. but I am glad that he is still here and look forward to hearing his concluding remarks.
I thank the Chairman and the main Opposition spokespersons, Deputies Deenihan and Wall for their contributions. I note the absence of the Sinn Féin and Green Party representatives from this very important Estimates debate. We hear from them frequently in the Dáil Chamber, when the television cameras are on and the microphones are live but we do not seem to see them when real work has to be done. That must be noted and is regrettable. Public representatives have a duty to represent the public, regardless of whether the cameras are rolling.
Deputy Deenihan referred to the disparity in performance between Dublin and the regions. I am very conscious of the importance of promoting as wide as possible a spread of tourism business. That is why the Department has introduced a range of programmes and initiatives, as outlined in my earlier address, including an additional €4 million for the home holiday campaign in 2006. Home holidays are increasing and rose by 7% in the first nine months of 2005. Of course, the number of foreign holidays is also increasing.
The introduction of the €3 million super regions initiative will be helpful, as will the support for local small and medium-sized enterprise networks, delivered at county level. Support for new air access routes to the regions continues to be helpful in their development. Having said all that, we cannot force tourists to go where we want them to, which is why it is important to have high quality facilities and attractions in the regions. The tourism product development group is currently examining this area and will report later this summer. The advice from the US State Department on travel is not as harsh as its advice on other western European countries, such as Britain and France. Tourism Ireland has not received any adverse reaction to the advice, which mainly consists of normal warnings on petty crime, etc. We are, of course, conscious of the need to put in place measures to counter crime against tourists, including the victim support service.
The Irish Sports Council has submitted proposals for the establishment of a sports institute, which is part of the programme for Government. The Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs also recommended the establishment of such an institute in its report, Ireland and the Olympics. This year, I am pleased to say, €1 million has been provided for the Irish Sports Council for the establishment of an institute of sport in Ireland and the council's proposals are being assessed with a view to consulting the Government shortly. The contributions of the National Coaching and Training Centre and the University of Limerick should be acknowledged. While the institute will be located in Dublin, the National Coaching and Training Centre will continue to play a major role in supporting coaches and elite sports persons.
With regard to sport in schools, funding for facilities such as PE halls is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science. However, applications from primary and post-primary schools and colleges are permitted under the sports capital programme, provided funding is sought in tandem with local sports clubs or community groups, the need for the proposed sporting facilities is demonstrated and the local community will be able to access the proposed facility for at least 30 hours per week. Many projects have been submitted in this round of applications and many more have been supported in the past by the programme. In any event, the new strategy for sports facilities will address the issue and the Department of Education and Science is represented on the group which oversees the development of that strategy.
Provision for the so-called master plan to refurbish the historic National Gallery buildings will be considered in the arts and culture chapter of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. We have already brought proposals to the Department of Finance for major investments in the National Gallery and the National Library.
We are all aware the planning process for Lansdowne Road is under way. The stadium committee has made determined and exceptional efforts to address the concerns of residents and the company has been responsive to their needs. A dedicated forum was established under the chairmanship of Dr. Dermot Egan, at which issues of concern can be raised and addressed. It is important that the planning process have a successful outcome in order that the project may proceed. While some people may regard an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 50,000 as intrusive, it will be less so than the alternative of office blocks or other commercial buildings. If planning permission is not obtained for the stadium, the danger arises that the IRFU will seek the funds to go elsewhere, in which case the obvious solution would be the sale Lansdowne Road. The residents who object to the stadium should face the stark reality that their alternative is a concrete jungle. I believe a new 50,000 seat, world class stadium is far preferable to a concrete jungle but, then again, I am a Kerryman.
To address Deputy Wall's concerns, revenue is probably the most significant measure of tourism performance. Foreign visitor revenue increased by 7.8% in 2005, a credible performance. The visiting foreign resident segment showed growth of 17.6% in 2005. This segment brings significant benefits for tourism, although not as many as holiday-makers. The average length of stay in 2005 remained static at 7.6 nights. Deputy Wall also expressed his concern about the adequacy of facilities in certain parts of the country. The audit we have commenced will help us to address that issue.
With regard to the Irish Film Board, there are no plans to discontinue the current grant programmes for film-makers, including the training programmes. There is a process under section 481, which is currently being advanced. The issue will be definitively addressed by the end of 2008, by which date the revised scheme will be in place.
With regard to Mr. Dalton's report on the greyhound industry, I have been advised by the Attorney General that we are required to forward a summary of the report to the people against whom allegations were made and that a reasonable period of time must be allowed for a response. Clearly, we will prepare the necessary letters and await the replies before bringing the matter before the Government for consideration. I stressed at the outset of this process that every person involved would receive due process and I have no intention of departing from that procedure. We are at the final stage of the report in terms of reaching a publication date and it is important that everybody be fairly treated.