Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if he has had any discussions with tourism, sport and recreational groups coming within the aegis of his Department with a view to promoting their respective sectors and maximising employment opportunities. [6200/11]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the extent to which he has evaluated economic potential and job creation throughout the various sectors under the aegis of his Department; his plans for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6199/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 34 together.

Tourism

The Report of the Tourism Renewal Group, Survival, Recovery and Growth — A Strategy for Renewing Irish Tourism 2009-2013, sets out tourism's contribution to Ireland's economic, social and cultural development and the prospects for Irish tourism in a changed world. It also puts forward a Framework for Action for tourism's survival, recovery and growth over the period to 2013.

Tourism has taken a more central role across economic, employment and trade policy in the past two years, in light of the difficulties facing the Irish economy. The Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, contains targets for job creation, exports, tourist numbers and inward investment projects by 2015 as well as how Government and agencies will work towards those targets. Its tourism elements draw on the Tourism Renewal Group in its Report and Framework for Action, setting a target of increasing visitor numbers to 8 million by 2015 and providing for 15,000 new jobs to be generated directly in tourism.

Drawing on the Tourism Renewal Group, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, reiterates the scope to develop both the leisure and business tourism sectors and highlights certain areas where Ireland may have a particular competitive advantage. The Strategy recognises that in the short to medium term, Ireland's best prospects are in the United States, Great Britain and the major European markets, which is reflected in Tourism Ireland's overseas marketing plan for 2011.

The four-year National Recovery Plan explicitly recognises the tourism industry as a labour-intensive sector that could provide job opportunities and foreign revenue earnings as the economy recovers. It prioritises continued investment in and promotion of the tourism product. Funding under the National Recovery Plan is to enable the upgrading of tourist attractions, the development of a number of key iconic attractions and the improvement of infrastructure in growth areas such as walking, water-based activities, cycling and heritage. Continued investment was also promised to enhance and promote cultural tourism, eco-tourism and conference business across the country.

Building on the framework as set out above, the new Programme for Government recognises the importance of tourism with the following actions identified:

International access is vital to tourism recovery. We will abolish the €3 travel tax subject to a deal being agreed with Ryanair and Aer Lingus to re-open closed routes and bring more tourists into Ireland. If no deal can be done, there will be no reduction in the tax.

We will prioritise the Tourism Marketing Fund as an essential pillar of our tourism strategy and will ensure the best return on Exchequer spending.

We will explore the possibility of a new agreement on visitor visas with the UK, offering tourists the opportunity to visit the UK and Ireland with one visa, at a reasonable cost, to tap into the tourism market for significant events such as the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics.

Marketing campaigns will be developed in emerging long-haul markets such as China, Russia, India, Japan and the Middle East, using the Tourism Marketing Fund. Recovery of market share in Britain will also be a key priority in a revamped tourism strategy.

Improving the e-capability of our tourism product will be a priority.

We will target available resources at developing and co-ordinating niche tourism products and activity packages that are attractive to international visitors focusing on food, sports, culture, ecotourism, activity breaks, water-based recreation and festivals.

Event tourism will be prioritised to continue to bring major fairs and events to Ireland, such as the Volvo Ocean Race and Solheim Cup.

Culture

Moving to the importance of the arts, culture and creative industries to Irish society and to our economy, I am conscious not only of the role of the sector in providing vital opportunities for self-expression and participation but also of the economic potential of the arts and creative industries. At the same time, while our arts, culture and heritage are important contributors to sustainable economic recovery, their contribution should never be measured in financial terms alone. Rather, they should be appreciated also for the social, cultural and educative benefits that they bring to communities large and small around the country.

Government policy in relation to the arts will continue to be enabled and implemented through the agencies and institutions within my Department, namely the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland as well as the cultural institutions within my Department's remit.

My Department provides funding for a number of cultural events throughout the year which are specifically designed to promote the value of our cultural heritage and cultural activities. These include events such as Culture Night when arts and cultural organisations throughout the country extend their opening hours to provide the public with increased free access to the various collections, workshops and other events hosted by the organisations.

My Department also continues to support the cultural tourism product on offer, particularly in the use and deployment of smart technologies. In 2010, my Department launched a new initiative, the Cultural Technology Grant Scheme, the aim of which was to use a variety of the best new and existing technology methods to deliver a promotional, educational or information product to promote the Irish arts, culture and creative sectors. Funding in excess of €1 million was provided to 25 projects to showcase the best of our Irish art, music, culture and heritage in the most exciting, innovative and dynamic ways.

Another example of an innovative project supported by my Department was the provision of Church Baptism, Marriage and Death genealogy records on the website www.irishgenealogy.ie. This should help generate interest in genealogical research into family histories and encourage roots tourism.

Sport

Similar considerations to those in the cultural arena apply to our sporting heritage, which contributes not just to the personal and social development of communities across the country but also to the economic wellbeing of the country. For example, based on an analysis by my Department, every €26,700 allocated by the Department under the Sports Capital Programme supports one job in the construction sector. Moreover, thanks to the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, a new 25-metre swimming pool with a modern gymnasium supports 12 full-time and 12 part-time jobs.

There is also a very extensive financial dividend to be obtained through the success of major sporting events, particularly those with an international dimension. Through a variety of actions and investments, Ireland is developing an enviable reputation as a destination to play and watch sports. Stadia such the Aviva, Croke Park, Semple and Thomond Park attract international and domestic tourists in large numbers throughout the year. The targeting of major international sporting events such as the Ryder and Solheim Cups in golf, the Volvo Ocean Race and the Irish Open golf tournament attracts tourists and also showcases the country in the best possible light.

The Assessment of Economic Impact of Sport in Ireland report, which was prepared for the Irish Sports Council in 2010, states that Government investment plays an important role in supporting and driving the wider economic benefits of sport. This report demonstrated that there is a very significant return on Government investment and expenditure on sport in Ireland. Based on figures for 2008, it is estimated that overall Government expenditure on grants, capital investment and other sport-related expenditures amounted to €618.3 million. However, the Government sector as a whole received €922.4 million in revenues from taxes on sport-supported expenditures and incomes, in addition to revenues from sports facilities. This implies a net income to the Government sector arising from the sport economy amounting to €304.1 million. In other words, for every €100 of Government expenditure, the Government receives approximately €149 back in the form of taxes and other income arising from sport-related economic activity.

In summary, the tourism, culture and sport sectors have demonstrable ability to contribute to economic recovery and job creation, and the new Government will engage with the key stakeholders to ensure that this potential is fully realised.