Vol. 509 No. 2
55 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 43 and 50 of 16 June 1999, the review of the regional tourism authorities has been completed; if so, the outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19905/99]
The regional tourism authorities, RTAs, were established by Bord Fáilte, under the Tourist Traffic Acts, for the promotion and development of tourism on a regional basis. In line with the commitment set out in An Action Programme for the Millennium, Bord Fáilte, at my request, initiated a review of the RTAs earlier this year. The objective was to review the role and operations of the RTAs and recommend how they could optimally contribute to the achievement of national tourism objectives and targets set by the Government in line with Bord Fáilte's strategic plan, while taking into account regional priorities and customer focus.
The chairman of Bord Fáilte has recently forwarded to me a copy of the review, carried out by Fitzpatrick Associates, together with the board's view on its recommendations, for my consideration. These are being examined in my Department and I expect the findings and recommendations of the review to be made public once this process has been completed.
