I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 224 together.
As part of the overall mid-term review of the Community Support Framework and in common with other operational programmes, the mid-term review of the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999 has commenced.
The review process of the Tourism Operational Programme began last year with the drawing up of detailed terms of reference for a mid-term evaluation, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the European Commission, and the appointment by the National Monitoring Committee of a mid-term evaluator. The mid-term evaluator's report was finalised recently and, as part of the next phase in the review process, was considered at a specially convened meeting of the National Monitoring Committee of the Tourism Operational Programme on Friday last, 28 February 1997, which was chaired by my Department. This meeting allowed the various interests represented on the National Monitoring Committee to discuss the report in detail with the evaluator and to put forward initial views. These initial views will feed into the overall CSF mid-term review process and will allow the Government and the European Commission to review the general thrust and direction of CSF programmes, to decide on any strategic changes required and to determine any inter-programme reallocations which might be required in the first instance, prior to considering changes within individual programmes. The CSF review is due to be completed later this year. Any changes arising from this review process which result in amendments to the Operational Programme for Tourism will be published.
Although I did not personally meet the external evaluator, who is the independent consultant commissioned by the National Monitoring Committee to produce an independent assessment of progress under the operational programme from 1994 to date, he did include my Department in his round of consultations. The Department laid particular stress on the extensive benefits which derive to the economy from tourism and from investment in the sector.
As to the specific subject of increased skills in tourism deriving from the operational programme framework, the training policies and strategies under the programme are designed primarily in anticipation of market-led changes in demand for overall tourism products. CERT's general remit is to provide training for new entrants and the existing workforce to ensure a higher quality of tourism product. CERT also provides training for the unemployed to equip them with technical, interpersonal and other skills necessary to take up employment opportunities in tourism.
Targets for these three training categories both in terms of expenditure and numbers trained are included in sub-programme four of the operational programme and are part and parcel of the overall review process involving the external evaluator and the National Monitoring Committee and ultimately to be incorporated later this year in the wider CSF review process. The desirability of reallocating resources within the total CSF both across programmes and within programmes will be considered as part of that exercise.