Tourism Promotion

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2016

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Questions (748)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

748. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide funding to enable Sligo County Council to hire a skilled and qualified tourism promotion officer, which is drastically needed to allow County Sligo to reach its tourism potential, further to the recent funding for 12 new temporary road maintenance positions that was allocated to allow Sligo County Council for road repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5505/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department works closely with Sligo County Council in relation to the Council’s overall staffing requirements. However, under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is the Chief Executive of the Council who is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority. My Department has not received a sanction request from Sligo County Council for a Tourism Promotion Officer.

The matter of funding for a post of this nature is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.