Liam Burke
Ceist:31 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the outcome of the mid-term review of EU programmes administered by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10812/98]
Written Answers. - EU Programmes.
The surveys of overseas visitors to Ireland conducted by Bord Fáilte confirm consistently that almost half of all overseas holidaymakers visit places of cultural/historical interest. This confirms the relevance of the projects aided under sub-programme one of the Tourism OP to international tourism. Indeed cultural tourism is fast emerging as one of the main growth areas in the tourist industry worldwide and the projects being assisted under sub-programme one aim to increase the range and choice of facilities available to the foreign visitor in Ireland.
Under the mid-term review, a reduction of 10 million ECU in the European Regional Development Fund allocation as follows has been implemented for sub-programme one of the Operational Programme for Tourism administered by my Department.
|
mECU |
||
|
Measure 1 |
National-Regional Cultural Activities |
1.688 |
|
Measure 2 |
National Monuments and Historic Properties |
2.064 |
|
Measure 3 |
Natural Environment |
6.248 |
|
10.000 |
A very positive element of the mid-term evaluation for my Department is the allocation of an additional 1.5 million ECU European Regional Development Fund to enable my Department to engage in overseas marketing of cultural and heritage attractions. This is an exciting development and my Department is proceeding as a matter of urgency with a recently approved specified programme of overseas marketing iniatiatives.