Austin Deasy
Ceist:89 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has satisfied himself that the standard of service in the tourist industry is acceptable. [659/94]
Written Answers. - Tourism Staffing.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:93 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he has satisfied himself that the level of staffing services in the tourist industry is at a level necessary to satisfy the customer. [660/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 93 together.
CERT, the State Training Agency has served the tourist industry extremely well and their training programmes have had a considerable impact on the development of the tourist industry.
This performance of Irish tourism over the last Operational Programme, which outstripped international competition, shows clearly that the range of products and services provided by the Irish Tourism industry succeeded in attracting a large volume increase in visitor numbers, against the background of stiff international competition. Given the essentially labour intensive nature of tourism, this would suggest that an effectively satisfactory balance was maintained between standards of product and service and optimum staff levels. In the final analysis, the level of staffing is a matter for individual industry establishments.
I certainly do not wish to be complacent about staffing and services standards in tourism, they can always be improved. The Tourist Operational Programme which I announced recently contains a special sub-programme on tourism training. Total investment of over £110 million (to which the European Social Fund will contribute about £82 million) will be allocated under this sub-programme to tourism training. In addition I am asking the Tourism Council to help me draw up a blue print for Manpower Policy for the Tourism Industry until the end of the century.
These proposals will have a major impact on the quality, profitability, professionalism and performance of the industry.