Written Answers Nos. 275-284
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set down the number of tourists expected to the country in 2017; the way in which this will compare with the previous year; the extent of any extra promotional work required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6388/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures for 2016 show that there were over 9.584 million overseas visits to Ireland. Tourism Ireland is forecasting growth of 0.8% in overseas visits in 2017.
Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a holiday and business tourism destination. I have asked Tourism Ireland to provide the Deputy with further information regarding their promotion plans for 2017. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the extent to which he and his Department are taking measures in the tourism sector to offset the negative aspects of Brexit; the extent to which he expects the sector to be equally competitive in markets inside and outside the EU, including the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6390/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn common with the rest of Government, there has been considerable analysis of the challenges which tourism faces because of the outcome of the UK Referendum. In this context, on 23 January 2017, Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan T.D. and I hosted an All-Island Dialogue on the impact of Brexit on the tourism and hospitality sector. At that event Tourism Ireland presented on the research they had commissioned to assess the propensity of consumers living in Britain to travel overseas in a post Brexit world. The research shows that 7% of people living in Britain say they are less likely to holiday overseas in 2017. The research also indicates that spending patterns are likely to change, e.g. 50% of people expect that they will spend less while on holiday abroad.
Tourism Ireland also presented research which estimated that outbound travel from Britain will decline by 2.5% in 2017. Given Ireland's reliance on Britain, from where 41% of our overseas visitors came in 2016, tourism to Ireland is likely to be more impacted than to any other destination.
Tourism Ireland's strategy for responding to Brexit will involve various strands, including defending key segments of the British market, very focussed competition in existing markets in Europe and North America, and pursuing new, potentially lucrative, markets further afield.
In terms of markets further afield, a commitment is given in the Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" to prioritising tourism marketing efforts towards those markets providing higher revenue returns. The Programme for Government commits to implementing the policy objectives in the policy statement and achieving the targets for Irish tourism contained therein. The UK vote does not change this.
As regards competing more vigorously in existing markets, a key element of Tourism Ireland's strategy since 2014 has been market diversification which has seen Mainland Europe become the largest contributor of overseas tourism revenue and will see the United States overtake Britain as the number two contributor to tourism revenue over the next few years. In 2017, Tourism Ireland will continue to implement its market diversification strategy and intends to maximise holiday revenue through investment in Mainland Europe and North America.
In addition, the depreciation of the pound against the euro since the UK referendum means that value for money will be a key message for Tourism Ireland in Britain this year. A strong focus on the "culturally curious", who tend to stay longer and spend more, will assist Tourism Ireland in their defence of their British market. Looking to the medium term, Tourism Ireland is currently finalising its corporate plan for the period from 2017-2019. This plan will, inter alia, include the agency's response to marketing Ireland in Britain in the new situation that has developed following the referendum.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the degree to which he proposes to deploy the capital sports grants throughout the country to ensure a high quality and standard of facilities in all areas within reason in keeping with demographics and the demands of a growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6391/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. In particular, its stated objectives are to:
- Assist voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, local authorities and Education and Training Boards and schools to develop high quality, accessible, well-designed facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation.
- Prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities.
- Encourage the sharing of local, regional and national sports facilities by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport.
The 2017 round of the programme is open for applications until 24th February, 2017.
In terms of how grants are subsequently allocated, while the precise assessment criteria and scoring system for the 2017 Sports Capital Programme are currently being finalised, I do not envisage that the scoring and weighting system will change significantly from previous rounds of the Programme. In this regard, the distribution of the overall funding to each county will be considered on a per capita basis. Individual applications will first be checked to ensure eligibility and eligible applications will then be initially scored according to criteria designed to give higher scores to applications that will increase participation, that are from designated disadvantaged areas and had not received substantial funding in the past. The assessment process will not commence prior to the closing date for applications on the 24th of February and the scoring system will be finalised before then and published thereafter.
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the extent to which his Department monitors the rail and bus services in County Kildare with a view to ensuring the needs of commuters are met to the greatest extent possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to both the company and the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive responses within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the extent he expects to be in a position to promote and assist the development of passive recreation activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6393/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport and outdoor activities, including some passive recreation activities.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the extent to which he and his Department can promote and support amateur golf in all areas throughout the country; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet the demand in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6394/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding for National Governing Bodies of Sport.
As this question is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred it to Sport Ireland for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the extent to which he continues to monitor the developmental requirements at regional airports with a view to eventual provision of an integrated system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6395/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDevelopment issues at airports, whether State airports or regional airports, are primarily a matter for the relevant airport authorities.
In the case of the four smaller regional airports of Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry and Waterford, my Department's Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019 provides financial assistance towards specific developments and costs in the areas of safety and security. As the grant schemes under this Programme operate on an annual basis, my Department maintains regular contact with these four airports in relation to their funding proposals in these two areas.
This approach is recognised by, and is consistent with, the National Aviation Policy which was completed and published by my Department eighteen months ago. That Policy noted the strategic importance of aviation access infrastructure to this country for underpinning and growing our economic activity and that the Irish airport network is well placed to grow its share of global passenger traffic over the coming decade. The Policy also acknowledges the role played by the regional airports in promoting a level of international connectivity to support the tourism and business sectors in their regions.
The Exchequer does not, however, invest in airports for development purposes and the grant schemes under our Regional Airports Programme do not support development projects which are designed to expand capacity. Any proposals in that regard are a commercial matter for airports themselves.
282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the need to meet road and bridge realignments in County Kildare with particular reference to the replacement of the Liffey Bridge in Celbridge and provision of a further bridge thereat to facilitate current and anticipated traffic volumes arising from the Celbridge local area plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6396/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including bridges) in Kildare is the statutory responsibility of Kildare County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993-2015. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.
The assessment of options in relation to bridges in County Kildare, including at Celbridge is, therefore, a matter for consideration by Kildare County Council.
283. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the internal transfer of funds within Bus Éireann from its Expressway service to its public service obligation service for each of the past five years; if he will provide a breakdown of the transfer of funds from Bus Éireann to Irish Rail and from Dublin Bus to Irish Rail for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6027/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) respectively and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to both companies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive responses within ten working days.
The referred replies under Standing Order 42A were forwarded to the Deputy.
284. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline her views on whether the accounting standard known as IAS 39 is fit for purpose with regard to rules adopted by banks when valuing assets. including loans; her plans to amend its instructions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6140/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational Accounting Standard 39 (IAS 39) entitled “Financial Instruments: Recognition and measurement” attracted adverse comment in the context of the financial crisis. Accordingly, IAS 39 has been replaced by International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9), “Financial Instruments”.
This newer standard is intended, in part, to address concerns with the “incurred loss” approach to the recognition of losses on loans that is used in IAS 39. IFRS 9 requires the recognition of expected credit losses on, inter alia, loans advanced by banks, so that it will no longer be necessary for a “credit event” to have occurred before credit losses are recognised, as was the case with IAS 39.
IFRS 9 will apply in the EU to IFRS financial statements for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2018, with earlier application permitted. IAS 39 will then cease to apply in all but one specific instance.
IFRS 9 was adopted by means of Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2067 of 22 November 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 1126/2008 adopting certain international accounting standards in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards International Financial Reporting Standard 9. Therefore, it will be a matter for the Commission to bring forward any proposals for amendment if it sees that as necessary. If so, any such proposals will be considered by the Council and the European Parliament.
