Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1402: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if her attention has been drawn to the negative impact the travel tax is having on tourism in the mid-west region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31763/10]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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I have acknowledged on many occasions that we are experiencing a very challenging period for Irish tourism with all areas of the country experiencing a decline in overseas visitor numbers. While any decrease is disappointing, it must be viewed in the context of a decline in tourist numbers internationally. Tourism worldwide has been deeply affected by global economic difficulties and loss of consumer confidence. Furthermore, the exceptional weather conditions in the early part of the year and the closure of airports in April and May due to the volcanic ash cloud meant that it was inevitable that a falloff in the numbers of people travelling would be experienced in the first half of 2010.

I acknowledge the concern among many in the tourism industry that the Air Travel Tax could potentially affect the competitiveness and viability of routes to and from Ireland. The Department is monitoring trends and assessing information in relation to the impact of the departure tax on routes. The Government will be making decisions on all taxation matters as part of the wider deliberations on the Budget, having regard to the general national fiscal situation.