Vol. 472 No. 1
76 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether he has satisfied himself with the co-ordination of grant aiding agencies for the tourism industry; and the mechanisms in place to ensure that duplication is avoided. [22015/96]
My Department plays the lead role in co-ordinating State expenditure on tourism. I have indicated in response to previous similar Dáil questions, that the primary vehicle for grant-aiding tourism currently is the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999. A co-ordinating committee, chaired by my Department, meets on a regular basis to ensure a coherent approach to the administration of the programme. The committee is composed of representatives of all agencies involved in implementing and administering the programme, including the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Education, the Department of the Marine, the Department of Tourism and Trade, Bord Fáilte, the Central Fisheries Board, CERT, the Office of Public Works and Shannon Development.
There is also a national monitoring committee for the Operational Programme, again chaired by my Department, comprised of representatives from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, relevant Government Departments, the tourism agencies, tourism industry, farming and trade union interests. This committee has general responsibility for ensuring smooth implementation in pursuit of programme objectives.
In addition, my Department, and as appropriate Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development, are represented at monitoring committee level for other Operational Programmes contributing to the development of the tourism industry, for example, INTERREG — Northern Ireland and Maritime, the special programme for peace and reconciliation, and the International Fund for Ireland. They are also represented on the appropriate regional structures for monitoring the implementation of the community support framework as a whole.
Co-ordination of grant-aid for the tourism sector is afforded a high priority and I am satisfied that the existence of these co-ordinating mechanisms will ensure that priority is maintained and will go a long way towards eliminating the potential for overlap or duplication. My Department will continue to monitor the situation.
77 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the tourism growth targets; and the level of funds which will be employed to achieve the projected growth. [21993/96]
79 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the employment potential of Irish tourism; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that this potential is realised. [22017/96]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 77 and 79 together.
The Government has set specific targets for the tourism industry for the period 1994 to 1999 in the Operational Programme for Tourism which the European Commission has agreed to co-fund along with the participating public agencies and the industry. These targets are: to achieve foreign exchange earnings of £2,250 million per annum by 1999; to create 35,000 full-time job equivalents — 17,250 in tourism, 6,000 in construction and the remainder in indirect and induced employment in the wider economy; to improve the quality of service through high quality training; and to concentrate growth in shoulder and off-peak periods so that by 1999 75 per cent of visitors arrive outside the peak July/August period.
The Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999 is the key plank in the strategy to achieve the above targets, including growth and employment targets. It builds on the partnership between the public and private sectors initiated under the last Operational Programme. The investment underlying this strategy, as set out in the current Operational Programme, is expected to amount to £652 million in total, made up of £369 million in the form of EU grants, £84 million from the Irish public sector and £199 million sourced from private investors. Additional, funding provided through the Vote of the Department enables Bord Fáilte, Shannon Development and CERT as the principal Government agencies concerned, to pursue other tourism policy priorities.
Further EU funded programmes and initiatives also underpin the Government's strategy in this sector. The programme for agriculture, rural development and forestry, which has an agri-tourism scheme, and the LEADER II programme administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, together with the local urban and rural development programme, also provide support for tourism initiatives. In the Border counties, assistance for tourism projects is available from the International Fund for Ireland, the INTERREG II programme and the special support programme for peace and reconciliation. The maritime INTERREG programme can provide assistance to tourism projects in the Dublin, mid-east and south-east regions.
Under the access to finance scheme launched last September by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, £52 million of the £208 million fund has been specially earmarked for tourism projects throughout the country. A similar scheme especially for the Border counties, was recently introduced under the programme for peace and reconciliation. Investments under the pilot tax relief scheme for certain tourism resort areas can also qualify for generous tax relief under the scheme.
