Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister's response and understand the stringent hand he must deal. I appreciate that his Department is the lowest staffed of all Departments. My main concern is for staffing levels in the various cultural institutions. At present these are at breaking point, with staffing levels in the region of 700 across all the institutions.

I reiterate that cultural tourists spend seven times more than ordinary tourists. I am concerned, therefore, about the Minister's prediction up to 2014. Does he honestly believe these institutions will be able to maintain their current service to the public and to tourists? Significant emphasis is being placed on tourism and cultural tourism in the revitalising of the economy. If the levels are at breaking point with approximately 700 staff, what will the situation be like by 2014? Will we see reduced opening hours in cultural institutions? If so, this will be counter-productive to the aims of the Minister's Government.

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