Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The Acting Chairman could have let Deputy Cowen speak for longer.

I, too, welcome the Bill. It is welcome that we are raising the cap on the sum allowed to be spent on tourism related projects, from €65 million, as set out in the National Tourism Development Act 2003, to €150 million. Tourism has a vital role to play as we try to rebuild the economy. The sector is to be acknowledged for the work it has done to date but, as I think everyone would agree, it can play a much greater role in rebuilding the economy. Deputy Cowen referred to the decrease in VAT which the new Government introduced earlier this year. That has played a role in helping the tourism sector, the hospitality sector in particular. I spoke recently to a restaurateur who suggested it had had a major impact on his business. He went on to extend the VAT decrease across every line in the business. He did not restrict it to the Government changes and he stated that it had had a positive impact on his business.

We can spend as much as we wish on tourist attractions but unless we market them well, the money is not well spent. The situation in County Westmeath at the moment is that the local authority has failed to renew the contract of the tourism officer because of the embargo on the recruitment of public sector employees. This is having a worrying effect on the tourism and hospitality sectors in County Westmeath.

Fáilte Ireland is excellent at promoting what Deputy Bannon referred to as the honey spots such as Dublin and Killarney, but one seldom sees it promoting less well-known destinations in Ireland. I wish to put on the record of the House today that those of us in County Westmeath have a great deal to offer. There are lakes in County Westmeath as well as Belvedere House gardens and park in which the local authority, Westmeath County Council, has invested a considerable amount of money since it bought it in 1982. Locke's distillery is in Kilbeggan, there are dog tracks in counties Westmeath and Longford and there is a racecourse in Kilbeggan. Ardagh in County Longford is a beautiful village which won the tidy towns competition some years ago, and the River Shannon runs by as well. These facilities are not marketed well enough. While we welcome that additional money will be spent on new tourism projects, the Minister of State should consider whether each local authority or region should have a dedicated tourism officer with sole responsibility for marketing the various attractions within his or her region. Tourist figures this year are up 300,000 on the same period last year, and this is welcome given the bad times. Nevertheless, we must market and sell ourselves better.

As Deputies are aware, tomorrow is culture night throughout Ireland. This is an ideal opportunity for us to set out our cultural institutions and venues. Let us consider the various attractions on the list for tomorrow night. I understand Leinster House will be open tomorrow night for tours on the hour. This is an opportunity for us to sell ourselves as a cultural destination. Fáilte Ireland has stated that cultural tourists spend more than ordinary tourists. It is important we sell our cultural institutions but not only in Ireland. We should begin to consider selling and marketing them more vigorously on the international stage.

Ireland is a favourite spot for Americans and the English, but we should consider emerging economies and the Far East as well. We should consider China and India and try to increase our visitor numbers from these regions. We should consider the new diaspora, those who have come from other countries and studied and received their education here, whether in Trinity College, UCD, DCU or wherever. They hold a certain loyalty to Ireland because they came here and studied for between three and seven years, depending on the course of study. They have studied here and retain a great loyalty to Ireland. We should try to tap into the resource these people represent. They have gone back to the own countries and made good there and they are keen to give something back to the country which educated them.

It boils down to having dedicated marketing officers, whether for each county or region. The national tidy towns competition plays a pivotal role, especially for small rural towns. For example, those in Abbeyshrule, County Longford, were glad of the recognition it received this year. Deputy Bannon alluded to the opening of the Royal Canal as far as Clondra where it meets the River Shannon. This has had a major impact on small rural villages such as my village of Ballynacargy, County Westmeath. This year we saw boats coming up from the River Shannon. Some people might ask what the big deal is about it, but the canal was closed for the best part of 30 years and no boats came up, so it is a big deal and it has created a great atmosphere to see them coming from the River Shannon this year. Some ten years ago the boats came from Dublin when the canal was being renovated and upgraded. It is a considerable tourist attraction and a good deal of money was spent on the Royal Canal by the previous Government. A great deal of work has been done by the Royal Canal Amenity Group as well. Many people have given of their time and effort voluntarily to ensure the canal remains open despite the proposal some years ago to close it in and make a roadway out of it. That would have been disappointing, but it did not happen. It is a welcome addition to the towns and villages through which it flows.

I welcome the Bill. Anything which invests money in the tourism industry is welcome. The Minister of State should take on board the need to have marketing officers for the various counties or regions, even if a cap on staff numbers is in place. I call on the Minister of State to consider the position in County Westmeath where we are losing our tourism officer. I took a holiday this year in County Mayo and it was very welcoming.

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