Vol. 475 No. 8
55 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the proposals approved under the tourism operational project; the arrangements, if any, there are for the mid-term review of this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6028/97]
The Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999 agreed between the Irish Government and the European Commission provides that in the case of the marketing sub-programme; and in the case of Bord Fáilte and Shannon Development areas under the product development sub-programme the decision making authority on grant applications shall be exercised by independent management boards, with the excepttion of large projects which also require the specific approval of the Government and the European Commission. These independent management boards are required to operate within the policy guidelines as set out in the operational programme. Each of these boards comprises three independent business-professional members, two relevant state agency personnel and one official from my Department. The membership thus brings broad practical business and professional experience to the decision making process to augment the tourism-related expertise of the tourism agencies and my Department.
Each management board is required to furnish me with an annual report listing all board decisions and advising of any significant developments or trends in relation to applications falling under their aegis. The first three reports, for the period to end December, 1995 were published and were laid before both Houses of Oireachtas. The 1996 annual reports are currently being finalised and when available, will also be laid before both Houses.
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 OP 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 OP on Friday 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 now be fed into the overall CSF mid-term review process thereby enabling the Government and the European Commission to review the general thrust and direction of CSF programmes and to decide on any strategic changes that may be required. This overall CSF review process is likely to be completed later this year.
