Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

60 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if particular attention will be given to the potential for the further development of the tourism industry in the Border region in the context of the national development plan; if specific funding will be provided for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19978/99]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

While growth in tourism over the past ten years has been unprecedented – visitor numbers to Ireland have doubled to 5.7 million and foreign exchange earnings have tripled to £2.3 billion – I believe there is still scope for further expansion in tourism revenue and employment in all regions, including the Border region.

The Border region has received tourism support over the past five years from a range of programmes including the Tourism OP (1994-1999), N.Ireland/Ireland INTERREG II Programme (1994-1999), Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, and the International Fund for Ireland. It is estimated that well over £130 million in grant assistance has gone into tourism development in the region from those sources since 1994.

My strategy for tourism development under the National Development Plan will be based on the needs of areas, having regard to whether an area is a developed, developing or undeveloped tourism area. The key national objective for tourism product development will be to provide an appropriate product base capable of supporting sustainable tourism development through enhancing or building up an interesting mix of tourism products, especially in developing and still underdeveloped tourist areas like the Border region.

As more detail emerges regarding future community initiatives for the Border region I look forward to EU support for tourism development continuing. Meanwhile I have received the report of the Donegal task force in July and, as I stated recently, I will be having the priorities identified in the report considered by my Department in the context of the drafting of its input into the Operational Programme for the Border, Midland and Western Region in the next National Development Plan.