Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 26, 37, 41 and 45 together.

My priorities for the development of the tourism, sport and arts and culture sectors are set out in the programme for Government. I will formulate policies and objectives, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, to achieve the delivery of these priorities, which will be articulated further in the Department's new Statement of Strategy 2008-2010, which is in preparation and is to be completed by the end of 2007.

I can say at this juncture that the overriding objectives will be to drive the development of policy with the achievement of a sustainable tourism sector and accessibility and participation for all in sport and culture areas. Under the provisions of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, the Department has a total provision of some €2.7 billion in respect of both current and capital expenditure across the three sectors. This expenditure will fund programmes such as the international marketing and product development programmes in the tourism area, the sports capital and swimming pool programmes in the sports area and the ACCESS programme in the arts-culture area. In addition, the Department will use the NDP funding to deliver such major capital projects as the national convention centre, the new Lansdowne Road stadium, the Abbotstown campus project, the new national theatre and the new National Concert Hall.

Specifically in relation to tourism, the general priorities as of now are to ensure that tourism has increasing public recognition as a key economic sector; the tourism agenda is accommodated in the relevant policies and programmes which impact on tourism; consolidate and continue to grow sustainable tourism sectors across the island of Ireland and that this is facilitated by the Government and the Department; continue to maintain the strong partnership between the State and the tourism industry; and follow up on the actions laid out in the agreed programme for Government recently negotiated. They would be the main priorities.

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