Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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616. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the legislative and policy provisions that give responsibility for local tourism development and promotion to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32939/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​Legislation with regard to the functions of Local Authorities is, in the first instance, a matter for my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.

I understand there is no specific legislative provision in local government law that gives responsibility to local authorities for local tourism development. However, section 66 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides Local Authorities with a general power to engage in such activities or do such things as are necessary to promote the interest of the local community, including measures or activities which promote, inter alia, the enterprise and economic development of the local authority concerned.

The 2014 Act also provides that each local authority must make a Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) to provide a strategic framework for the promotion of economic development and local and community development in its functional area. In this context, the promotion of economic development includes promoting the interest of the community with respect to, inter alia, tourism. Significant progress has been made by all Local Authorities in recent months in developing the LECPs with a view to their adoption by the end of 2015. It is understood that the majority of areas are currently engaged in public consultation processes and developing objectives underpinned by clear measurable actions to ensure successful delivery of the plans.

At policy level, the Government’s Tourism Policy Statement “People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025” which was launched last March, sets out key policy objectives under a range of headings, including a central role in tourism for Local Authorities and communities.

I have recently appointed a Tourism Leadership Group, to put in place a Tourism Action Plan that will set out the actions required in the period to 2018 in order that the overall objectives in "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025".  can be achieved.  Amongst the issues being considered by the Group is how to consolidate and enhance the role of Local Authorities in the area of tourism.

I intend to publish the Tourism Action Plan in the first quarter of 2016.