Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department will provide a special marketing fund to promote the mid-west and western sea board in view of the uncertainty about the number of flights that will operate into Shannon in 2008 and the number of cancellations from a number of groups for the early part of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19554/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the open skies agreement with the USA. It is a very positive development for tourism here and has long been a major objective of tourism policy. It has been supported by industry interests and endorsed by the tourism policy review group. Already, following on from the open skies deal, Aer Lingus has announced new services to San Francisco, Orlando and Washington Dulles.

The open skies regime will result in the phasing out of the Shannon stop-over policy. This is a challenge and an opportunity for Shannon Airport. If the airport is to successfully rise to this challenge, a number of issues will need to be addressed, including the efficiency of the airport, the development of new routes into Shannon Airport, improvements to the ground transport infrastructure around the airport and the further development of the tourism product around the region.

I am pleased to note that significant progress has been made in recent months in putting the airport on a more sound business footing. This is vital because if the airport does not deliver a cost-efficient service, its future will be limited.

The Government, under its agreed programme, is committed to providing "significant infrastructural development in the Mid West area, as well as marketing support... for a transitional period to help consolidate existing markets and develop new sources of business". To help deliver on this commitment, my colleague, the Minister for Transport and the Marine, is bringing an economic and tourism development plan for the Shannon Airport catchment area to the Cabinet. The draft plan will address the marketing issue. Whatever the Government decides in relation to the plan, the Deputy may assume Tourism Ireland, Shannon Development and other agencies will make a special drive to deal with the challenges facing the area.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister ensure the provisions in the plan which I understand is a proposal to spend €10 million a year on the promotion of the Shannon area are put in place as soon as possible? If the current routes are not supported, they could be withdrawn. The Minister may be aware that American Airlines and Air Canada will cease operations in October and Delta Airlines which I understand operates flights to Atlanta, an important hub for Florida and southern USA, will cease operations on that route this winter. This will be a major blow to Shannon Airport. One major hotel in the Shannon area has had cancellations from 11 group tours, representing approximately 2,000 bed nights, due to the uncertainty regarding flights into the region in 2008. I appeal to the Minister to ensure this fund is put in place immediately as, otherwise, there will be further cancellations and uncertainty.

A recent programme on American television, "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?", was watched by 7 million people. It showed beautiful images of the west of Ireland but, at the end of the programme, suggested that to get to Ireland, visitors should come through Dublin Airport. There was no mention of Shannon Airport, which was an opportunity lost.

Will the Minister indicate whether he has the information I seek? How many seats are available in summer 2007 coming into Shannon Airport and how many will be available in 2008? That is what matters.

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will have to wait until the Government concludes its thinking on the proposals from my colleague, the Minister for Transport and the Marine, in regard to an economic and tourism development plan for the Shannon Airport catchment area, which the Government will examine shortly. The Deputy will recall that, as Minister for Transport, I put legislation through the House in regard to securing the independence of Shannon Airport and giving it the opportunity to develop its own future and attract its own visitors. I accept there are challenges in the Shannon area as a result of the open skies regime but there are also opportunities. The plan which the Minister for Transport and the Marine and I will bring forward will help considerably to bring additional numbers into the Shannon region. There are approximately 300,000 North American visitors to the Shannon area annually, although I appreciate that this number has remained static and that the phasing out of the stopover will bring real challenges. However, there is a strong board and strong leadership at the airport. The new plan which I am confident the Government will put together will make a real difference to the region.