Written answers

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Tourism and Leisure Sectors

6:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has examined the potential for expansion in the tourism sector in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33696/11]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has taken a number of initiatives to encourage growth in the tourism sector.

The Jobs Initiative recognises the vital contribution of tourism to employment, economic activity and exports. The reduced VAT rate on a range of labour-intensive tourism services from 13.5% to 9% is a major concession providing an opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of Irish tourism.

The Government has also reduced the cost of employing people by halving employers' PRSI for those on modest wages and also by reviewing the regulatory framework for employment in a range of sectors.

The new National Internship Scheme (NIS) provides an opportunity for the tourism industry to take on interns in a range of areas.

The Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme will allow persons from selected countries granted leave to enter the UK as a tourist or business visitor to be able to travel to Ireland without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa.

These measures should help grow and sustain employment in the sector. I hope that we are beginning to see a recovery across the various overseas source markets for Ireland – with trips to Ireland for the first eight months of 2011 up by 11% compared to the corresponding period in 2010, including growth of 8.3% from Britain, 12.6% from North America, and 17.5% from other source markets.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which he has engaged with the various sporting authorities with a view to utilisation of the leisure sector in the context of national economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33697/11]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise that the Sport sector generates a significant economic return on Exchequer investment. Both myself and Minister of State Ring have ongoing dialogue with the key sport stakeholders on the strategic issues and challenges facing the sector and on the sport policy priorities and actions required for the future development of Irish sport to continue to maximise the economic benefits of the sector.

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