Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the input that his Department will have in the implementation of Transport 21, especially in reespect of vital tourist routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15153/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As the House is aware, I am not responsible for implementing Transport 21. That responsibility lies with my colleague the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen.

Transport 21 addresses many issues of importance to tourism development. My Department has developed a close policy relationship with the Department of Transport on issues of concern to tourism. It has also been in dialogue with the National Roads Authority and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This dialogue has also been facilitated by the tourism action plan implementation group.

In 2004, the regional tourism authorities identified a number of routes which they considered of key interest from a tourism perspective and these have been communicated to the relevant authorities.

Transport 21 identifies a number of national secondary roads for improvement such as the N56 — Donegal-Letterkenny coastal route; the N59 — Mayo-Galway coastal route; the N67 — Clare coastal route; the N69 — Limerick-Tralee route; the N70 — Ring of Kerry; the N71 — west Cork coastal route; and the N86 — Tralee-Dingle route. The inclusion of these key tourism routes in Transport 21 indicates the importance with which the Government views the economic contribution of the tourism industry.

Fáilte Ireland has a new environmental unit which is taking a more active role in regard to environmental, planning and infrastructure issues. Through its role as a prescribed body in the planning process, Fáilte Ireland inputs on an ongoing basis to proposals for new road and rail projects. It is currently engaging in the consultation stage of the route selection for the metro north in Dublin.

It is also liaising with the National Roads Authority on the identification of priorities for tourist signposting as part of the implementation of a major four-year programme to improve directional signage on national routes. This involves a review of the 1988 guidelines on tourist signposting in Ireland.

My Department continues to develop its relationship with the Department of Transport and other key transport players to ensure, as far as possible, that the implementation of Transport 21 reflects the continuing needs and priorities of the tourism sector.