Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a study/audit of all major towns in Ireland with regard to the availability of coach parking within their town centres that will allow access for tourists to visit town centre attractions without the difficulty of long walks; if he will agree that this proposed study will inform his Department if local authorities are sufficiently providing for coach parking within their major towns and thus ensuring visitors are able to get the most from their visit to Ireland. [30499/12]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 607: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider possible funding (details supplied) to local authorities to provide for proper regulated coach parking in town centres to ensure proper access for this visitor sector; [30500/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together.

The matter of conducting a study of major towns to establish the availability of tourist coach parking facilities is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland who are responsible for encouraging promoting and supporting the development of tourist traffic within the State.

I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that, in association with the Department of the Environment, it has recently launched the Tourist Towns awards scheme. This awards scheme which is open to the top 100 Tidy Towns from the previous year, will focus on the quality of visitor facilities and the quality of the visitor experience in these towns. The criteria that each town will be assessed against will include the provision and quality of parking facilities in these towns and villages, which would include coach parking. While this is a qualitative exercise, it would certainly serve to highlight any significant concerns around the issue of coach parking in these towns and could lead to a more quantitative study if this issue was considered to be an impediment to the sustainable development of tourism in any of the towns, or if any of the town were missing an opportunity which could be capitalised upon through the provision of better planned coach parking.

Capital funding for tourism product development is a matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the funding aspect of the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.