Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the efforts he has made to maximise the use of sporting facilities and accommodation here by teams, staff and supporters in the run up to, and during, the London Olympics in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I chair a high-level co-ordinating group which is identifying opportunities for Ireland that may arise across the sports, tourism, cultural and enterprise sectors as a result of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. One objective is to attract international teams and athletes for training camps. To date, four international teams have chosen the National Aquatic Centre , NAC, as a training base. Last month, the NAC hosted the Hungarian and British water-polo men's senior squads for a training camp and two international matches, while the US Olympic synchronized swimming squad and the British paralympic swimming squad have also chosen the NAC as a training base. A number of other sports facilities such as those at UCD and the University of Limerick are also directly promoting their facilities to attract international teams and athletes. In addition, my Department has produced for widespread circulation a CD which contains the details of a number of Irish elite sports facilities that would be suitable as training camps. I would be happy to make a copy available to the Deputy. A difficulty in attracting teams and athletes is that cities in the United Kingdom are offering financial incentives to every national Olympic and Paralympic committee to locate in the United Kingdom to prepare in an approved pre-games training centre.

The co-ordinating group is also considering other potential benefits. The tourism agencies are working closely with a range of partners at home and overseas to maximise the tourism opportunities. Enterprise Ireland is actively pursuing opportunities for Irish business, while the cultural agencies are developing proposals for a cultural programme around the London games. The London 2012 co-ordinating group will continue to meet on an ongoing basis in the coming year to maximise opportunities across each of the sectors.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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This is a golden opportunity to advertise Ireland and the facilities available here. As the Minister of State noted, facilities such as the National Aquatic Centre and the National Sports Campus, as well as other sites in Limerick and elsewhere, will be utilised. As this is a great opportunity to attract both teams and tourists, it is important that we make an effort. Any way by which incentives can be made available to visitors to come here should be considered because of the importance of this event. It also will provide Ireland with an opportunity to demonstrate what it can do to support these events, even though they are being hosted by our nextdoor neighbours. However, this constitutes an important relationship-building exercise with them.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is correct and we have been lucky thus far. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has been working with Irish companies in building facilities for the Olympic Games. In this context, projects worth €300 million have been secured. Moreover, Enterprise Ireland is confident that more will be gained in this regard. Tourism Ireland is working hard to avail of cultural and tourism opportunities. It is in discussions with agents and encouraging people visiting Britain to travel to Ireland. In particular, on foot of the introduction of the new visa arrangement, people who intend to attend the Olympic Games are being encouraged to visit Ireland for a few days. In addition, a number of agencies are working to try to arrange cultural events in Ireland to encourage people to leave London. As that city will be very busy during the Olympic Games, the hope is people will decide it is too busy and travel to Ireland. They are being encouraged to visit any part of the island they wish. Everyone is working hard in this regard.

This important event constitutes a great opportunity for Ireland. In particular, I compliment Enterprise Ireland because of its hard work with Irish companies which has yielded the great total of €300 million in revenue and I hope more will be achieved. The major obstacle to getting groups to visit this country is that the British Government and cities within Britain are offering £25,000 and more to encourage teams to use their facilities. We lack the resources and the money to do this and as such, have done well to attract four teams. Nevertheless, we have ideas to try to encourage other teams to come to Ireland in the remaining months. The Government is working hard on this issue.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Perhaps the recent VAT reductions in respect of accommodation, restaurants and so on might be promoted and people made aware that it now is cheaper to come to Ireland. In addition, will the Minister of State be able to ascertain whether the Olympic torch can pass through Ireland? As it would be a great advertisement, is it part of the plan? My recollection is that there have been some discussions in this regard. Will the torch pass through the country before crossing over into England?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I had thought there would be some news this week on the Olympic torch. I must compliment Mr. Pat Hickey who is working hard on the issue. A number of meetings have taken place both here and abroad and I expect an announcement to be made within the next month which I hope will be positive. I compliment the Taoiseach, all of the State agencies and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, who have held meetings on the issue. However, to be fair, Mr. Hickey has been working extremely hard and I am very confident in this regard. Although I had hoped for an announcement this week, it did not happen, but I am confident it will be made next month. As I stated, a number of meetings have taken place and it would be a great boost for the country. Certainly, it would be the first time for many years that the Olympic torch had left the country in which the event was taking place. It would be a great signal for Ireland and provide a great boost for the economy. I hope and I am confident it will happen.