Vol. 518 No. 3
50 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has satisfied himself that facilities and standards in the tourism area are adequate to meet requirements and capable of competing with facilities available elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11503/00]
264 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has satisfied himself that the standard of facilities available are sufficient to compete with those in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11777/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 264 together.
Since 1989, the Irish tourism industry has benefited from a very substantial round of capital investment, undertaken with the support of the 1989-93 and 1994-99 EU.
Co-Funded Operational Programmes for Tourism. This investment, totalling £739 million, has assisted in the upgrading of existing facilities and the addition of new ones, and has been across a wide range of facilities, whose existence has assisted in no small way in the growth and maintenance of visitor numbers.
Furthermore, an impressive expansion of tourist accommodation over the same period has resulted in increased competition and higher standards across all categories.
While I am satisfied that levels and standards of facilities in the tourism industry have improved, there is no room for complacency. That is why, in my discussions with the industry, I continue to emphasise the need for maintaining high standards in order to meet the needs of our discerning overseas visitors.
To ensure that our tourism product continues to keep pace with, if not ahead, of our international competitors, I have secured some £100 million under the national development plan for tourism product development over the next seven years. This will be allocated under the two regional operational programmes. These two programmes also include funds under the aegis of other Ministers for areas such as marine leisure, angling and rural tourism, which will benefit the sector, while expenditure in the cultural development and micro-enterprise areas will also support the development of tourism product. The strategy for tourism product development, under the programmes will be based on the needs of areas, having regard to whether they are developed, developing or undeveloped.
52 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if there will be a tourism product development grant scheme under the next tranche of Structural Funds; the level of funding which will be available; if grants will be targeted at areas that are deficient in tourism infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11527/00]
54 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the manner in which it is proposed to allocate the £100 million allocated to fund tourism product measures under the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11477/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together.
I have already addressed the issues raised in a previous question.
The National Development Plan 2000-2006, has now been published and includes an outline of the Government's proposals for the development of the tourism industry over that period. Under the plan, I have succeeded in obtaining in excess of £350 million specifically for tourism marketing, product development and training over the next seven years.
The plan provides for two regional operational programmes, one for the border, midlands and western region and one for the southern and eastern region. The £100 million, which I have obtained for development of tourism product, will be delivered under these programmes. These programmes will also include funds under the aegis of other Ministers in areas such as marine leisure, angling and rural tourism, while expenditure in the cultural development and micro-enterprise areas will also support the development of tourism product.
My Department is negotiating with the Department of Finance in relation to the tourism content of these programmes. The programmes will have to be agreed by the regional assemblies and forwarded to Brussels. It will take another few months for Brussels to sign off on the OPs. It is possible, that it may be into the autumn before all the relevant structures are put in place.
53 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has any plans to change the current regional structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11497/00]
The regional tourism authorities 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 the Government's Action Programme for the Millennium, Bord Fáilte initiated a review of the RTAs during 1999. The objective of the review is to ensure that RTAs are positioned to make the optimum contribution to the realisation of national tourism objectives and targets set by Government while taking into account regional priorities and customer focus. In the context of the review, a report on the RTAs was commissioned by BFE from Fitzpatrick Associates.
