asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the plans the Government have drawn up so far to meet the commitment contained in the Programme for National Recovery to create an extra 25,000 jobs in the tourism area and to attract an additional £500 million of foreign tourism revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourism Development.
17.
I have already articulated on numerous occasions in this House the main constituents of Government policy for the development of Irish tourism. These are more competitive and extensive access transport, improvements in the range and quality of our products, better price competitiveness and more targeted marketing.
Details of the initiatives which we have taken on access fares including a very radical charter policy have been already given to this House. Within the last few days, I announced approval in principle for the introduction of a substantial number of new services by Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Club Air based on the EC air transport package agreed in December last. I expect very shortly to be in a position to give details of a revised bilateral agreement negotiated by my Department with the UK authorities providing for more liberal arrangements as to market access, capacity and fares than those of the EC package. This will clear the way for the approval of further services for which our airlines have already sought approval.
Investment in tourism as in all other sectors has greatly benefited from the dramatic fall in interest rates which the Government have brought about. In addition, the extension of the business expansion scheme to tourism has increased the potential and attractiveness of the sector for increased investment. On the competitiveness front, the Government's success in reducing domestic inflation to the lowest level for many years will enhance the attraction of Ireland as a tourist destination. On the marketing front Bord Fáilte, at the request of the Government, have adopted a more targeted approach to specific markets and to specific segments within these.
Bord Fáilte estimates for 1987 vindicate the policy initiatives we have taken. For the first year ever total tourism receipts exceeded £1 billion. Total out of State receipts at £721 million were £72 million higher than in 1986. Bord Fáilte have also estimated that over 3,800 extra jobs were directly created in tourism in 1987 while a further 3,600 extra jobs were indirectly generated as a result of the sector's performance.
Finally, as the Deputy will be aware, the Government have allocated an extra £4 million in the budget for the development of tourism. They have set up a special advisory group, representative of a wide cross section of the industry, to advise on how this £4 million should be spent with a view to achieving the targets set out in the Programme for National Recovery.
I thank the Minister for the detailed response he has given. The question I wish to put to him is: does he wish to estimate how much longer we have to wait to see the realisation of the very specific targets laid down in the Programme for National Recovery of 25,000 extra jobs in tourism and an increase of revenue of £500 million? When does he, as Minister, anticipate that we could enjoy the benefits from all the various plans he has outlined in his reply?
As the saying goes in my part of the country, ceteris paribus, if the Deputy has a look at the figures which resulted from an initiative taken in May 1987, for eight months of the year, and apply those to the extra jobs figure and the extra revenue that I have just mentioned he will see that what was regarded as a very ambitious programme of 25,000 extra jobs and £500 million extra revenue in tourism has got under way. It is important to have a high objective and a high aim and that it is achievable.