Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:
66
Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if his attention has been drawn to the findings of a recent report on the British holiday market, commissioned by Bord Fáilte, which found a perception that the traditional sense of hospitality and friendliness which tourists expect may be declining; if he plans any moves or initiatives to counter this perception; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6612/01]
I am aware of the findings of the British holiday market report carried out on behalf of Bord Fáilte. The reference to the perception that the traditional sense of hospitality and friendliness which tourists expect may be declining is apparently derived from responses given by tour operators in Britain who programme Ireland.
While Bord Fáilte's 1999 visitor attitude survey showed some slight diminution in the rating accorded to the friendliness of the people, the ratings are still comparatively high. Nonetheless, I am concerned that, with our recent economic success, some of our traditional appeals such as friendliness and slower pace of life may be perceived by visitors as on the wane. Greater attention on all our parts must be afforded to retaining the traditional Irish welcome.
As part of the pilot initiative on tourism and the environment under the tourism operational programme, 1994-99, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation pioneered the people and place programme to help sustain the key advantages that Ireland enjoys in terms of its people and unspoiled environment. This initiative, with the objectives of enhancing the awareness of these key elements of our appeal to visitors, included six pilot projects. One of these projects aimed to create a better understanding of the concept of sustainable tourism development by communicating the "people and place" core values message throughout all tourism sectors, and to selected tourism-related audiences, with a view to facilitating inclusion of the core values in future staff training. The initiative is being continued by ITIC with the support of Bord Fáilte.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
67
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the extent to which provision has been made or is proposed in regard to sporting and recreational facilities to facilitate the various towns and villages throughout the country, with particular reference to ensure reasonably easy access is provided in respect of all sporting and recreational disciplines throughout the country; if his attention has been drawn to the need to upgrade and expand such facilities in line with those available in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6694/01]
The greatly increased funding for sport provided by this Government over the past three and a half years has resulted in a considerably enhanced quality and range of top class facilities from national level to local community clubs and centres. Funding for capital projects through the sports capital and local authority swimming pool programmes increased from £12 million in 1997 to £51 million in 2000 and that funding does not include the construction of the national 50 metre swimming pool at the University of Limerick and the development of Sports Campus Ireland at Abbotstown.
The Deputy may be interested to know that last year, under the Sports Capital Programme, I allocated £36m to 679 sports and recreational projects right throughout the country, which represents a very substantial improvement on the position which prevailed when this Government took office.
Special priority is given under the programme to proposals for facilities in disadvantaged areas, in line with Government policy aimed at increasing participation in sport and recreation in these areas. In addition, applicants are required to consult with other clubs and community groups, including schools with sport and recreational facilities in their area, and with their local authority before making an application for funding and are also requested to show the outcome of such consultations. The purpose of this is to ensure that regard is had to identified needs of the area and that the proposed development does not result in an overlap with and/or duplication of existing facilities.
Prior to deciding on the funding for national and regional facilities, my Department, in addition to normal assessment criteria, consults with all the National Governing Bodies of the organisations in question with a view to establishing their present and future priorities. Where appropriate my Department also consults with other Government Departments, the local authorities and with the Irish Sports Council, in relation to their respective priorities for the provision of sporting facilities.
In 1999 my Department commissioned ILAM (Ireland), a consultancy firm specialising in sports facilities, to prepare a report on the condition of local authority swimming pools built between 1966 and 1981. Thirty pools around the country were identified as being in need of refurbishment. I then secured a £45 million funding package for the swimming pool programme for the period 2000-02, an increase in the annual budget from £3 million to £15 million per annum over these years.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, grants of up to £3 million are available towards both the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost.
Applicants seeking funding for major sports and recreation facilities under my Department's sports capital and local authority swimming pool programmes are required to provide a feasibility study setting out detailed assessments on such areas as the types of facilities planned, their potential utilisation, viability, appropriateness to local, regional and national requirements and policy directions and their sustainability over a long period of time.
In addition to all of this funding, under the culture, recreation and sports measure of the local infrastructure sub-programme of the regional operational programmes of the NDP, a sum of £85 million has been specifically allocated for the provision of community sporting and recreational facilities for 2000-06. These facilities will be located at Gateway towns to be identified in the national spatial strategy currently being undertaken by the Department of Environment and Local Government. Once the Gateway towns have been identified, proposals will be sought from local authorities, and where appropriate voluntary and community organisations, for the provision or upgrading of sport and recreational facilities. Work on the identification of Regional Gateways is scheduled for completion by mid-2001, when implementation of the measure can begin.
