Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the submission from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation to the National Development Plan that the Government needs to invest nearly €1 billion into the tourism sector; his views on this estimate; his further views on the need to spend significantly on international marketing and to develop particular tourist spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26943/06]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will ensure that at least €250 million be allocated to tourism product development under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26670/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 46 together.

I am, of course, aware of the submission from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation in relation to the National Development Plan 2007-2013, a copy of which has been provided to my Department. Indeed, I met the Chairperson and the Chief Executive of ITIC earlier this week to discuss the submission and other issues.

Work in relation to the preparation of the next National Development Plan is being co-ordinated by a High Level Inter-Departmental Committee chaired by the Department of Finance. My Department is represented on this group which is overseeing the drafting of the Plan and the preparation of material in respect of the various economic areas involved. As part of a broad consultation process, the Department of Finance has invited submissions from the social partners, including ITIC.

Tourism is an important economic sector which has had a high level of visibility in the current and earlier such Plans. My objective is to ensure that there is appropriate provision in the next NDP to provide for the necessary future investment in marketing, product development and human resource development and training to help deliver our ambitious targets for the Tourism sector.

A good deal of preparatory work has already been carried out in relation to the Plan, including a detailed submission from Tourism Ireland on marketing while a major report on a Tourism Product Development Strategy is nearing completion by a group under the auspices of Fáilte Ireland. The precise levels of funding involved for the different areas will be determined by Government later in the year as the NDP process unfolds.