Written answers
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
Budgetary Submissions
9:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the discussions she has had with the various stakeholders in sectors relevant to her Department; the extent of submissions she received in respect of the proposed future economic plan or the forthcoming budget with particular reference to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44088/10]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the extent to which she has met with the various stakeholders under her Department's aegis in preparation for the four year plan or the forthcoming budget; if she intends to respond to the submissions she has received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44440/10]
Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 120 together.
Policy in the areas of tourism, culture and sport is kept under constant review, in consultation with key sectoral interests. I meet many of the stakeholders in the tourism, culture and sports sectors on a regular basis as part of this ongoing consultation process.
In the tourism sector, since my appointment as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, I have met the Chairs and Chief Executives of the tourism agencies, namely, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Shannon Development, as well as the main representative bodies in the tourism sector and a number of the main airlines and sea carriers serving the island of Ireland. I have also had the opportunity to canvass the views of many other stakeholders at the many functions and events that I have attended around the country and abroad.
Also in the tourism sector, I have received copies of the pre-Budget submissions from a number of representative groups to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, including those from the Irish Hotels Federation and the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation. Moreover, as part of the preparation of my Department's Statement of Strategy for the period 2011-2013 , I convened three consultation forums for each of the tourism, culture and sport sectors, at which I met and had discussions with the key stakeholders. These consultation forums occurred as recently as September 2010 and proved to be invaluable in fostering a mutual exchange of views as to the challenges and opportunities facing each sector.
Arising from these extensive contacts and engagements, I have been made aware of the concerns and priorities of the tourism, culture and sport sectors. The various stakeholder proposals and submissions received due consideration in the context of the ongoing Estimates process and forthcoming Budget, as well as in the preparation of the four-year Economic Plan.
My Department and I will remain in ongoing close contact with the key stakeholders, particularly over the coming budgetary period.
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