Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2012
21. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to deal with the fact that cuts to staffing and financial resources in the public sector will have a negative impact on tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45118/12]
View answerIn keeping with the reforms and economies that are taking place across the public sector, the tourism agencies have reconfigured and prioritised the services they provide in order to ensure that the core services required of the tourism sector are delivered.
Over the last year, Fáilte Ireland has merged with Dublin Tourism and is pursuing a merger with the tourism arm of Shannon Development. It has engaged with tourism groups, chambers of commerce and local authorities to deliver tourist information services, rationalised its property requirements and where appropriate pursued shared services and activities with Tourism Ireland and other agencies.
Tourism Ireland has also delivered the required efficiency savings for north-south bodies through better procurement and other efficiency programmes. Among the measures undertaken in this regard have been the renegotiation of a number of leases on Tourism Ireland’s overseas office network and the securing of better rates for the purchasing of advertising space.
More broadly the Government is committed to supporting the tourist industry and last year's Jobs Initiative and the Government's Action Plan for Jobs 2012 recognised the vital contribution of tourism to employment, economic activity and foreign revenue earnings. For example, the VAT reduction on a range of tourism services from 13.5% to 9% has enhanced the competitiveness of our tourism product. This lower VAT rate will be maintained until the end of 2013 and represents a substantial resource commitment on the part of the Government. Furthermore, the Government is funding the biggest ever tourism initiative "The Gathering Ireland 2013" through Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland which it is projected will deliver 325,000 extra visitors next year.
