Written Answers Nos. 45-59
46. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been any noticeable increase in visitors from China, India, Brazil, Russia and south east Asia in recent years; the targets he has for these markets; and the strategies that exist to ensure that Ireland increases its penetration of these markets. [54339/13]
View answerFigures published by the Central Statistics Office show that Irish tourism is enjoying a very good year and all of our main overseas markets are showing growth. For the ten month period between January and October, the number of overseas visits to Ireland increased by 7.3% to over 6 million. Visits from North America were up 14.6%; visits from Mainland Europe were up 5.6% while visits from Great Britain were up 5.1% for the ten month period. Due to the relatively small numbers involved, the CSO does not publish individual country breakdowns for other long-haul markets. The Office does provide an overall figure however, and the number of visits from these markets increased by 14.4% compared by the same period in 2012.
Tourism Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the overseas marketing of the Island of Ireland as a holiday destination. In terms of promoting Ireland in the areas specified, this year's activity includes arranging familiarisation visits for leading travel agents and tour operators from these markets and also cooperative campaigns with airlines and tour operators serving these regions. The Visa Waiver introduced by Government under the Jobs Initiative has assisted greatly in facilitating more visits from those markets which are visa-required and in encouraging operators from those markets to include Ireland in their itineraries. I launched the agency's 2014 marketing plans earlier this month and I know the agency will continue to work hard to put Ireland on the map in emerging markets.
With regard to tourism strategies for the medium to longer term, Tourism Ireland is currently finalising its three year Corporate Plan to cover the 2014 -2017 period which will, inter alia, outline strategies for each of our main overseas tourism markets. In addition, work on the tourism policy review is now progressing following completion of the first public consultation phase. One of the issues raised in the public consultation document relates to Ireland's future priority markets/best prospects.
50. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on any and all pension schemes available to employees of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company; they way they are funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54402/13]
View answerWithin the State commercial ports sector, the establishment and operation of superannuation schemes for employees is a matter for the company concerned subject to sections 40 and 41 of the Harbours Act 1996.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company operates a defined benefit superannuation scheme that is now closed to new members. As with any other scheme, the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company scheme must meet the funding standards as set down by the Pensions Board. In common with many such schemes the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company defined benefit superannuation scheme is in deficit and must therefore submit a funding proposal to the Pensions Board. The preparation and submission of funding proposals is a statutory requirement of the Pensions Acts and regulated by the Pensions Board.
I am aware that the Company and the trustees of the scheme have held discussions with scheme members regarding the required funding proposal. The submission of any funding proposal to the Pensions Board is a matter for the trustees of the superannuation scheme and not something in which I or my Department have a direct role.
51. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of positions on the Irish Sports Council's governing board that are directly electable; if he has any further plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51458/13]
View answerThere are no directly electable positions on the Irish Sports Council (ISC). In accordance with the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, all members of the Council are appointed by the Minister.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to elect a number of positions on the Irish Sports Council's Board. It was envisaged that the sporting national governing bodies (NGBs) would elect a number of individuals to the board of the Irish Sports Council. There is merit in this approach in terms of ensuring that the NGBs have a direct say in how the ISC operates and makes its decisions. However against that, there are concerns about the appropriateness of having individuals elected to the ISC, the body which allocates funding to NGBs, by the NGBs themselves and the conflicts of interest that would arise. In the light of corporate governance experience in recent years across the state sector, there is a strong argument to be made against having boards consisting of representative interests given the potential for conflicts of interests but rather to have all board members focused on the broader public interest and the remit of the state agency itself.
Both Minster Ring and I are currently considering this matter in the preparation of the draft Heads of the Sport Ireland Bill, which will provide for the establishment of a new body to replace the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority and will combine the relevant functions of the Council and the Authority. Minister Ring will bring the Heads of Bill to Government for approval early in the New Year, following which the Heads of the Bill will be forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport for its consideration prior to drafting.
52. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding the ability of sporting bodies to register as charitable bodies, and the potential for this to enhance philanthropy towards sporting bodies. [54338/13]
View answerIn order to sustain the development of sport it is important that sporting organisations can secure alternative sources of investment, including philanthropic donations. I believe that there is potential for philanthropy and charitable giving for areas of sport such as programme development and high performance.
I have had discussions with the Minister for Finance on the issue of the tax treatment of donations made to sporting organisations, including the question of charitable status. Officials from both of our Departments will examine this issue in detail over the coming months.
55. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the working group that has been established to examine road charging for HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54141/13]
View answerFollowing consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, it was agreed that we would establish a working group to look at the feasibility of introducing a road charging regime for HGVs in Ireland in the medium term. Obviously the introduction of any such regime raises a number of issues and will require the input from a wide variety of government departments and agencies. The group will need to take account of issues in relation to the Exchequer impact of a road charging regime, how it would work, the impact this will have on imports and exports, the technology involved in such a system, compliance with European legislation and how it would be enforced amongst other matters.
My Department will chair this group and preliminary discussions have already taken place between the parties involved. The terms of reference are currently being completed and the group will begin its substantive work in January. The group will report on the feasibility of a road charging regime by the middle of 2014 and following which a decision can be made on whether to implement such a system in Ireland. If a decision is taken to implement such a regime, I will ensure that industry groups such as the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Irish Exporters Association, etc, are involved.
56. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the Railway Procurement Agency is being subsumed into the National Roads Authority; his views on whether this could be damaging to future hopes of public transport improvements here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54394/13]
View answerThe proposal to amalgamate the NRA and RPA is consistent with Government plans for Public Sector reform and, in particular, its programme for rationalisation of State Agencies.
It is envisaged that the value created by RPA, in terms of organisation and specialist project management skills, will be combinted with the NRA, in a new agency Transport Infrastructure Ireland that will become a leader in the planning, delivery and management of transport infrastructure in Ireland, while also demonstrating the best and most efficient use of scarce public resources.
The greater range of in-house expertise and skills available to the new body is expected to lead to a reduction in reliance on external consultants. The increase in scale due to the amalgamation of both organisations is expected to generate benefits through more efficient capital expenditure and shared administration, as well as an ability to leverage greater efficiencies in procurement.
59. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total funding being provided to sports in 2013 and to compare this to recent years. [54336/13]
View answerThe total funding provided to sport by my Department in recent years is €81.9m in 2011, €77.7m in 2012, €72.3m in 2013 and an allocation of €93.4m for 2014. This total contribution of some €325 million over the four years includes €177m in current funding which is channelled through the Irish Sports Council. This supports the work of the National Governing Bodies of Sport and a wide range of programmes through the Local Sports Partnerships to increase participation rates. Participation in sport can bring benefits in terms of health and well-being which can in turn produce an economic dividend through reducing costs to the health sector.
It also allows the Council to support our elite athletes through the High Performance Programme as they compete on the world stage. The performance of Irish athletes not only boosts the morale of the country but promotes our image internationally and draws tourism to Ireland from around the world.
The balance of the contribution comprises €148m in capital funding which supports the development of sports facilities through the Sports Capital Programme, the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme and funding for the National Sports Campus.
