Vol. 246 No. 10
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the considerable impact of recent political developments, North and South, on the Irish tourist industry he will arrange an immediate special subvention for an intensive promotional campaign to recover lost bookings.
13.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in order to clear up the confusion and concern which have arisen from recent reports of cancellations of bookings by potential tourists, he will now make a comprehensive statement outlining the exact position and the factor or factors responsible for the cancellations; and whether any corrective action is being taken.
14.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether Bord Fáilte have had or will have to curtail any of their promotional, marketing or information services owing to the inadequacy of State subvention to meet rising costs.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13 and 14 together.
In the course of a reply to a question on the subject of tourist traffic on 13th May, I said that estimates of tourist income for this year would fall to be reviewed as reliable information becomes available. Bord Fáilte have been conducting an assessment of the position and the interim results, based on interviews with carriers, travel agents and hoteliers, are now available. These indicate that coach tour traffic from Britain and North America may show a decline and that tourist traffic from Northern Ireland may be affected to an extent that cannot be quantified at this stage. The level of advance bookings from Britain is, however, comparable with that of a year ago and traffic from France and Germany is expected to be satisfactory.
The main reasons for the situation as outlined are: (i) the economic situation in the United States; (ii) the situation in parts of Northern Ireland; and (iii) the raising of the £50 foreign currency limit on British citizens holidaying abroad.
As regards the level of funds available for tourist development, I would explain that the total funds provided to Bord Fáilte have been increased progressively each year and have doubled over the past four years. The activities of Bord Fáilte are supplemented by the promotional work of the air companies, Córas Iompair Éireann, Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd. and the B & I Company. The total Bord Fáilte allocation of £5.55 million for this year is £300,000 higher than last year. I do not envisage any special subvention in addition to this allocation but corrective action within the limits of the Budget is being taken by Bord Fáilte with the emphasis on seeking to attract traffic in the months immediately ahead. The board is also seeking to achieve a much heavier involvement in its promotional work on the part of all other sectors of the industry.
Is the Minister aware that at least one regional tourist organisation has found it impossible to continue its schedule this year unless it is prepared to carry a loss of at least £15,000 for the year while producing the bare minimum of service? In view of that serious situation will the Minister not now have another look at the position regarding financing tourism?
Due to the extreme escalation of development and promotional costs on the part of Bord Fáilte and the response of private interests to the facilities made available by the board, there has been a tremendous increase in commitments as far as Bord Fáilte and the regional tourist companies are concerned. This is a situation that has been building up over the past few years and one with which we must deal within reasonable financial limits.
Has the Minister seen the recent statement of Dr. O'Driscoll, Director General of Bord Fáilte, in which he claimed that the subvention to Bord Fáilte, taking rising costs into account, has not increased for three years? Could the Minister say to what degree increased costs here are a result of Government policy and to what degree increased costs of accommodation, transport and ancillary operations connected with tourism have contributed to cancellation of bookings?
Every general manager and every director general of every State board wants more money. That goes without saying.
Would the Minister not agree that when a tourism organisation established by Bord Fáilte finds that it will need to run at a loss of £15,000 producing only the same programme as last year, there is something wrong and that the additional payment of £2,000 from Bord Fáilte this year does not represent any increase but rather a loss of £15,000 over the year?
The regional tourist bodies when set up originally were intended to be primed by Bord Fáilte as regards initial finance but, unfortunately, as often happens they have become over-dependent on Bord Fáilte and there has been a noticeable lack of local response and local contributions towards the financing of these regional tourist bodies.
Who is going to provide the money if Bord Fáilte do not provide it?
Is it not true that the factors which we are led to believe are now responsible for the cancellation of bookings were known long ago and, in fact, could easily have been anticipated six months ago? In view of this, is it not strange that the Minister has not taken any special action and has not given Bord Fáilte the necessary additional money to enable them to mount the intensive promotional campaign which everybody in the tourist industry knew six months ago would be necessary?
We had a supplementary estimate for Bord Fáilte at the latter end of last year, as the Deputy knows.
I gather that the Minister's reply was to the effect that bookings from Britain are the same as last year at this point in time. Could he say how this compares with the expectation of increased bookings and what increase in traffic from Britain was originally anticipated? Could he state with reference to the continental traffic from France and Germany which he said was satisfactory, what he means by "satisfactory"?
I am sure the Deputy is aware of the facts in regard to these matters. They are entirely outside the scope of the three questions put down to me. If the Deputy would put down questions on these aspects I shall have them answered next week.
They are relevant supplementary questions.
Questions Nos. 15 to 19 to the Minister for Labour are for written answer.
I was not notified that these were for written answer.
I understood the Minister had been notified in each case.
I had no such notification.
One Minister will not tell another what he is doing.
It is Deputy Ryan who is asking the questions.
Questions Nos. 15 to 19, inclusive, for written answer.
