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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Equality and Structural Funds.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

236 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on the 1996 report, Equality and Structural Funds which was critical of the Operational Programme for Tourism; and the action, if any, which is being taken to address these criticisms. [16479/97]

The report on "Equality and the Structural Funds", jointly published in 1996 by the Community Workers Co-operative and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action was a useful input into the community structural funds mid-term review process.

In the context of this review, it is important to bear in mind that the basic objective of the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 is to strengthen the Irish tourism sector in order to increase the contribution of overseas tourism revenue to the Irish economy and thereby create jobs.

The programme has three main strands of activity — product development, marketing and training and is intended to benefit all geographical areas of the country. While the programme, of its nature, tends to have a strong economic rather than a social thrust, focusing mainly on the development of infrastructure and the marketing of Ireland as a tourism destination, it does not neglect the more social issues through the provision of training for the disadvantaged and through the provision of infrastructural product suitable for the physically handicapped visitor.

In line with the commitment of both the Government and the European Commission to improve the position of the socially disadvantaged, support is available to hotel proprietors to help meet the additional costs of providing suitable access-friendly accommodation for the disabled and related facilities in existing hotel premises, where the hotel plans to market and develop international tourism business in this specialist area.

Help is also available to assist hotels and major visitor centres to provide access for the disabled, where this can be provided on a cost-effective basis. Assistance towards the cost of modifications to existing structures, including the provision of ramps, suitable toilet or other facilities to allow access by the disabled, is eligible for European Regional Development Fund grants.

The training sub-programme has specific targetes in relation to the unemployed and these targets are largely being met. In 1996, 85 per cent of those who completed their training were placed in employment.

I welcome the acknowledgment in the report that the training sub-programme addresses disadvantage. Furthermore, all courses offered under the programme show high rates of female participation.

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