Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the timeframe for the merging of regional tourism authorities with Fáilte Ireland, in view of the refusal by the north-west RTA to wind up the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27535/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As I have advised the House on a number of occasions this year, most recently on 31 May, individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion or development at regional level are day-to-day functions of the State tourism agencies.

I have previously informed the House of my full support for the proposed changes in regional structures and the establishment of five new regional development boards for tourism. As the Deputy is aware, this initiative emerged from a major study of regional tourism structures undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers at Fáilte Ireland's request and supplemented by the work of a small independent group, chaired by Mr. John Travers. The PWC report highlighted the need for a much wider brief for regional tourism, with more emphasis on its strategic rather than administrative role and contributing more directly to national policy. It recommended a greatly increased emphasis on targeted marketing, product development and enterprise support and suggested establishing an integrated linkage between regional tourism strategy and national policy and exploiting avenues to leverage increased resources. I am confident the new regional tourism arrangements, with enhanced functions being put in place at local level, will enable tourism to grow in the regions to a greater extent than at present.

In the case of four tourism regions, namely, the south-east, south-west, west and midlands-east regions, the resolutions necessary to allow the reorganisation to proceed have been passed. I have also given my consent, on foot of a request from Fáilte Ireland, to the delegation of increased functions from the authority to the four new development boards for these regions.

The position with regard to the north-west tourism region is that the regional tourism authority has adjourned its extraordinary general meeting until 19 July. I understand Fáilte Ireland is in contact with that authority.

My officials met the chief executive of Fáilte Ireland as recently as last Monday, 3 July. At that meeting Fáilte Ireland advised that it is still working towards the end of summer target as the date when the change in regional structures will be delivered. This is in line with the target I gave to the House previously.

The chairperson and chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation conveyed the full support of the industry for this initiative when I met them earlier this week.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In the event of the north-west regional tourism agency refusing to wind down its company, is any legal process open to Fáilte Ireland or the Department to direct it to wind down? If it does not wind down, will the whole process cease or can the other four authorities go ahead? Will the Minister clarify what the position will be if it refuses to wind down at the meeting?

The Minister's reply indicated that the role of the RTAs has been greatly diminished and they have been stripped of their main role of tourism promotion. He said they will have a strategic role. What exactly does "strategic role" mean? Nobody has yet explained what they will be doing.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Neither the Minister nor Fáilte Ireland require the consent of any regional tourism authority to enable that authority to be disbanded. Even if the authority votes to stay in situ, the State tourism authority, Fáilte Ireland, can go to the High Court to ensure the policy is adhered to. However, as in all matters such as this it is always best to try to find a solution which does not require a stricture or imposition. Therefore, I had a meeting this week with the chairperson of north-west tourism to discuss the particular difficulties it appears to have with the concept.

I explained to the chairperson that far from this being a diminution of the powers of the regional tourism authorities, it is quite the reverse. I have been concerned in recent times about the growth of tourism numbers in large urban centres relative to what is happening in the regions. I know there are various factors involved, including people taking shorter breaks, a major increase in low price access to the country, people going to urban centres for shorter periods of time and short notice bookings. Nonetheless, there is a disparity which is a cause of concern. Therefore, I have given far greater powers to the regions under this initiative than ever before.

When I say that their powers will be more strategic, I mean they will be less administrative. For the most part, everybody would agree that regional tourism authorities have been involved in administration. They did that well, but I want to see them involved strategically in tourism, targeted marketing, product development and enterprise support. I want them to have a more active role in terms of attracting people into the regions than they have ever had.

This method, which follows closely on a report commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers will enable us to do that. I am also confident the problems with regard to north-west tourism will be resolved and that by the end of the summer we will have the five new development boards in place.