Tourism Development Policy Unit
Functions
The high-level goal of the tourism division of the Department is to facilitate the continued development by the tourism industry of an economic and environmentally sustainable and spatially balanced tourism sector, through formulating, monitoring and reviewing a range of supporting policies and programmes, particularly within the framework of the National Development Plan and North/South co-operation. In this context, the Tourism Development Policy Unit has responsibility for reviewing and facilitating the delivery mechanisms for State support for tourism as well as facilitating and reviewing the use of public funds for Human Resource (HR), enterprise and product development in tourism sector.
Key responsibilities of the Unit include:
- Policy issues relating to Human Resources, training, education and enterprise development in the tourism sector;
- Policy on tourism product development, including initiatives such as the International Sports Tourism Initiative, the Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative as well as corporate liaison with St. Patrick's Festival Company;
- Servicing requirements for the tourism product development and tourism training measures under the National Development Plan 2007–2013;
- Monitor progress towards the completion of a state-of the art national conference centre, following the award of contract to Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd on 5 April 2007 to design, build and finance the National Conference Centre and to operate and maintain it for a period of 25 years.
- Policy issues relating to regional tourism structures - the Regional Tourism Development Boards - with a view to ensuring that tourism development activities carried out at sub-national level are in line with national objectives.
- Policy issues relating to standards and the quality of the tourism product, including the legislative framework for the registration and approval of visitor accommodation and administration of the Tourist Traffic Acts, 1939-2003
- Corporate liaison with Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Development (on its tourism activities).
Services provided to the public
Dealings with the Public mainly relate to requests for information on
potential funding for tourism projects. However, neither the Minister nor
the Department has direct responsibility for making decisions on the funding
of tourism projects. The adminstration of tourism-related grant programmes
is the responsibility of the Department's agencies and other bodies. The
Unit also plays a role in referring customer complaints received in relation
to accommodation and other tourism matters to the appropriate bodies.
Latest News
Tourism Product Development Scheme
Tourism Product Development Scheme 2000-2006
This Scheme is funded under the Local Enterprise Development Priority of
the two Regional Operational Programmes and is administered directly by
Fáilte Ireland. Decisions on individual grant applications are made
by independent Product Management Boards specifically set up for this purpose.
Full details of the Scheme, under the Tourism / Environment Management heading,
are available on Fáilte
Ireland's website
Progress generally under the Scheme is now well advanced. Full grant approvals
amounting to more than €49.1 million have been made in respect of 79
projects nationwide. This Scheme is no longer open for new applications.
Grant payments will continue during 2007 as projects are delivered.
National Development Plan 2007-2013
The National Development Plan 2007-2013: "Transforming Ireland" includes the largest-ever Government investment programme for the development of Irish tourism. This Tourism Development Programme, which provides for an €800m Exchequer investment in tourism over the next 7 years, has as one of its fundamental objectives the stimulation of regional development. The programme includes:
- an 'International Marketing' sub-programme, which provides €335m to promote the island of Ireland in key international markets. The key objective over the seven years will be to increase tourism revenue and visitor yield and to help achieve a wider regional and seasonal distribution of business.
- a 'Product Development and Infrastructure' sub-programme, which provides €317m to upgrade and supplement our tourism attractions and activities and to deliver a National Conference Centre in Dublin.
- a Training and Human Resource Development Sub-Programme, which will invest €148m in the education and training of the tourism workforce, both domestic and non-national, as well as sustaining structured educational opportunities in the third level colleges and Institutes of Technology around the country. It will also provide for the continuation of initiatives aimed at improving management capability and networking in SMEs and micro-enterprises at regional level.
In addition to direct investment through the Tourism Development Programme, the new NDP includes a range of complementary programmes that will greatly benefit the future development of tourism. These relate not only to the major planned capital investment in transport, energy and environmental services but also to the proposed investment of over €900m in culture infrastructure and €990m in sport infrastructure under my Department's Vote.
National Conference Centre
In April 2007 the contract for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin was awarded to Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd. Under the public private partnership arrangement, Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd. is required to design, build and finance the National Conference Centre and to operate and maintain it for a period of 25 years, after which the facility will revert to the State.
The Centre will be capable of accommodating up to 2,000 delegates in plenary
session. It will also have some 22 multi-purpose meeting rooms and approximately
4500m² of flexible exhibition and banqueting space, along with associated
press and delegate support facilities and general utility spaces. The Centre
is expected to be operational in 2010.
For further information contact
Higher Executive Officer (Tourism Product Development) (+353 64) 27382
or
Higher Executive Officer (Tourism Enterprise Development) (+353 64) 27346
Fax the Division: (+353 64) 27350
Email the Unit: Tourismdevelopment@dast.gov.ie
Details about the Regional Operational Programmes and the Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme are available on www.ndp.ie and from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.
General information in respect of training and product development activities and programmes operated by Fáilte Ireland is set out in a range of publications available directly from them at www.failteireland.ie
Fáilte Ireland
Amiens Street
Dublin 1
Tel: (353 1) 8847700
Fax: (353 1) 8556821