Mr. Adrian Cummins:

We are doing a pilot initiative in Coláiste Íde in Dublin and we are also considering doing a pilot in Galway as well. We would like to roll that out across the country. Unfortunately, there are three State agencies involved with tourism and chef training and we need just one agency to do it. It should be brought under one umbrella, with the process brought under the bodies that were the VECs from the get-go.

The Deputy asked what we are doing about local tourism organisations. The Wild Atlantic Way has been a fantastic initiative and tourism in Dublin is growing at a fairly substantial rate but that is it. Areas like the midlands and the Shannon waterways seem to be left behind. There was commentary last week regarding Waterford, as it is seeking an extension of the Wild Atlantic Way. We must support those local businesses and what they are seeking on the ground. There is a tourism product in every county, and every county and local authority needs to be actively involved in tourism promotion. The front-line businesses, including restaurants, hotels, pubs and so on, need to be part and parcel of that policy development. There should be a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach. When businesses want developments in their county, they should be listened to from the top down.