An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy O'Keeffe, we might be wandering a little from the substance of the Bill.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe: I am well aware of it. However, if it is suggested in the course of a speech on this Bill that there is a question about the integrity of some people who were appointed to the board, it is important that the matter should be addressed in the interests of the people concerned who cannot answer for themselves in this House, particularly when they are people of the highest integrity and specialists in their field in the health service.

The Bill is obviously timely. I have addressed the nursing home provisions in it but I want to mention that nursing homes are finding it extremely difficult to get nurses. Like some of the Dublin hospitals, they now must bring in nurses from abroad.

There must be equity in the induction programme for nurses coming to Ireland and proposing to work in private nursing homes. It is not fair to ensure that priority is given to the public health service without giving a similar protection to the private nursing homes. After all, we in the health service are referring many people, who cannot be accommodated in community hospitals, to nursing homes and we are providing subventions to those nursing homes. In the Southern Health Board area, nurses being introduced from abroad may endure a lengthy wait before they are provided with the six-week induction course. I want this issue looked at and addressed and I want equity in the system.

Mr. Ring: I assure Deputy O'Keeffe that Deputy Gay Mitchell was not talking about the quality of the people appointed but about the fact that they were political appointees because they all came from Cork. It is a big country.

Mr. B. O'Keeffe: Effectively what he is saying-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: They are well outside the realm of the Bill.

Mr. Ring: I am sure there are highly qualified people in the Western Health Board and I am disappointed the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moffatt, did not see fit to appoint one or two of them.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy Ring, you have made your point.

Mr. Ring: As I have just been appointed to the Committee on Health and Children, I take this opportunity to tell Deputy O'Keeffe, the Chairman of the committee, that I find him to be a fair and good chairman. In my short time as a member of the committee, he has been courteous and helpful. At the first meeting I attended, I raised an issue in the context of the Department of Health and Children's concern regarding the tobacco industry. I was annoyed and upset and I think I was the first to raise concern at the fact that there was such an attack on the tobacco companies and yet there was not the same enthusiasm to attack the alcoholic drink companies. The Chairman reassured me that we will take up the matter at the committee and that satisfied me. I compliment him, as Chairman, and I look forward to working with him. We will deal with the other problems on Committee Stage.

The way the Western Health Board prosecuted some small shop keepers was mentioned frequently and I spoke about this here previously. I would not give any great credit to the health board for the way it did this. I am totally opposed to smoking but I am more opposed to alcohol abuse, which affects family life. At least smokers know there is a risk to themselves. I realise that passive smokers are affected also, but alcohol abuse affects, upsets and hurts so many families and we see this on a regular basis.

Last weekend it was depressing to read the court reports in the three local newspapers in my county. All of the cases related to alcohol abuse, late night drinking and how violent we have become as a result of alcohol. Alcohol has an effect on young people which is like that of drugs but the Government is not conducting any major research on it because people in the alcoholic drinks industry have a vested interest in it and comprise a powerful lobby.

I hope the Minister will respond to this point when he replies to the debate. People who suffer from mental illness and are in hospital seem to depend on cigarettes. I hope on Committee Stage we will ensure we do not impose on such people the restrictions we propose for the tobacco industry in the Bill. These people need cigarettes as their only comfort. They like their cigarettes and I hope we will not be too severe on them but will be sympathetic. These people should be protected and smoking should not be outlawed in mental hospitals.

Everybody knows that smoking was acceptable 20 years ago. Deputy O'Keeffe was correct. I am sure many Members of the House are former smokers. I happen to be. I hate cigarettes but I feel that if I smoked one cigarette, I would be addicted and I do not think I would have the power to give them up again. I have given them up three or four times. I have been off them now for about ten years and I hope I can stay off them. I like the smell of them but it makes me want to smoke and that is why I hate them.

Rather than use the law on the few small shop keepers left in the west, it would be better if people, particularly from the Department of Health and Children, went into the schools to talk to the pupils and show slides depicting the health effects of cigarettes. The small shops are being replaced by the major supermarkets, which do not seem to be attacked by the health boards as often as the small shop keepers.

No man or woman would sell cigarettes to a child if he or she knew the child was under age but there was a tradition in Ireland that a father, mother, brother or sister who smoked would send children to the shop to buy cigarettes and people must learn that they cannot do that anymore because it would to break the law. I welcome the measures in the Bill.

I take this opportunity to compliment Deputy Shatter, who introduced a Private Members' Bill in the House and did a substantial amount of work in this area. The tobacco industry certainly deserves this current attack and I hope the alcoholic drinks companies will be treated similarly because that is another issue which we in the committee and the Minister and the Department of Health and Children must deal with, although they are shying away from it.

An increasing number of young people, particularly girls, are smoking. That should be dealt with at an educational level. I would hope the Minister and the Department will introduce an educational programme in the schools. It would be a good idea and the money would be well spent. If the officials brought in slides and showed the pupils what was happening, perhaps more of them would stop smoking. I would go a step further. If they were to speak about cigarettes, they could also speak about alcohol and show the effects of alcohol on families and people's health. That is what should be happening.

This Bill also talks about pharmacies with regard to something which is very close to the heart of the Minister of State, to mine and the hearts of the people of County Mayo. The cartel in relation to pharmacies can be broken. I know the former Minister included something in legislation in the past and I hope this Bill will deal with this. There is a stupid situation in Knock, to which thousands of people go on a daily basis, whereby there is no pharmacy because of some regulation the health board and the Department of Health and Children brought into being. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Moffatt, is working hard on that and I hope he will get a result and will open up the pharmacy area. I do not believe in cartels. I accept that because of the drug problem, we have to have laws, regulations and rules but this cartel is too cosy. I hope the Minister of State, in the context of this Bill, will deal with the problem we have in Knock and that in the next few months, he will announce that the Minister for Health and Children, the Government and the health board have decided to allow pharmacies to open in Knock. I am sure there are many towns like Knock where there is a need for this service.

An individual contacted me recently - the Minister of State and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle who are doctors might understand this point - who had spent some time in hospital. The person was sent home on a Saturday and on the way out of the hospital was given a prescription. The person was going home to a rural area where no pharmacy would be open until the following Monday morning. Is it not possible for the hospital to give the drugs needed to carry a person over for at least a day given that some individuals are 70 miles from home and from there, another ten miles from a pharmacy which may not open on a Sunday? Would it not be possible for the hospital to give people living in rural areas, being discharged from hospital at the weekend, the drugs they need to carry them over for at least 24 hours? That is a reasonable request and I hope something can be done in that regard.

In recent years, medical cards have been taken from thousands of people who do not have large incomes; these are families which, because of the crazy situation and the guidelines in relation to qualification for a medical card, have lost their medical cards. I am open to correction but I think the income limit is £93 for a single person and £135 for a family in order to qualify for a medical card. Even if someone only works for a few hours each week, with the minimum wage, he would go over the limit in the guidelines for the medical card. We want to see the levels in the guidelines substantially increased and I hope that will happen in the forthcoming budget and that the thousands of people who have been excluded from the medical card scheme will be brought back into it. It is just not right.

I know doctors will not like me saying this, but it is bad enough for people on low incomes to have to go to the chemist, which will charge its fee, but the big problem now is the amount our GPs are charging. In my county, they are talking about increasing the charge for a call to £32. What about the family on £200 per week without a medical card, paying a mortgage and which has to go to a GP? My daughter got a throat infection and the doctor had to visit on three different occasions. We had to get three different medications because it was discovered that she was being treated for the wrong ailment. However, the real problem was that it nearly cost us a small fortunate. It was the first time I ever used the drug subsidy scheme because it all happened within the one month. What if that had been a family on a low income which had lost out on a medical card by £5 or £10 and had to get the doctor three or four times in one week? The problem now is the fees GPs charge.

The GPs do a wonderful job and I would like to see them getting more resources to help them. If the GPs were given assistance, we would have fewer people in hospitals. I compliment the GPs in my area because they do an excellent job for the people and I hope the Government will see fit to reward them.

The Minister of State will know I feel strongly about care of the elderly before I became spokesman on the elderly. As he will know, last year a report on the elderly was released. It stated that as much as 3% of the population - more than 12,000 older people - was subject to abuse. If that happened in any other country, we would lecture about it. Members would stand up on the Order of Business on a regular basis telling the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make contact with that Government to make sure that did not happen, yet it can happen in our country. That is not acceptable in the new millennium. I know the Minister of State has set up a group to deal with this and that the review group has met on a number of occasions. I hope that, as a result of that review group, we will see action from the Minister of State and the Department.

We have seen court cases where people have been prosecuted for the abuse of the elderly. Another daft thing happening in this State is that if a person opened a private nursing home tomorrow morning one would have to get planning permission, would have to go through the health board and would have to live within the law. There is an inspectorate in place which could visit that nursing home at any time. However, there is no inspectorate in place for public nursing homes owned and run by the State. We cannot have double standards and that must be resolved as quickly as possible. It does not make sense as far as I am concerned. I hope the Minister and the Government will deal with that problem as quickly as possible.

As the Minister of State will know, there are 381 registered nursing homes with a capacity for 24,058 people and there are 12,637 private beds available. The subvention in this State is outrageous and the guidelines refer to £60, £70 and £120. There are three categories of dependants which have to be medically assessed before people will qualify. It is time we considered increasing the subvention. Those who put people into private nursing homes are saving the State a small fortune. The amount of the subvention which the Department of Health and Children is providing is not adequate to deal with the problem. I hope the Government will deal with that in the forthcoming budget.

As to the housing needs of the elderly, the Minister of State recently introduced a scheme to provide heating in their homes. To be fair to the Minister of State, and I have been critical of him, he provided the funding but I am not at all satisfied that the health boards are spending it correctly. There were many advertisements and press releases telling the people this funding was in place. Thousands of applications were made to the health boards and the council for this scheme. Last year the Western Health Board - I tabled parliamentary questions on this matter because I had great difficulty getting the information - dealt with three cases after the Minister of State had provided the funding. That is wrong and mean, and the Minister of State and Government will have to deal with this.

If a heating scheme is announced for elderly people, then it should be for heating for elderly people and the officials in the health board should not dictate to the Minister of State, to me or to the people that its priority is roofs, windows or whatever. If the scheme is not being used for what it was intended, it should be withdrawn immediately.

Debate adjourned.

Priority Questions.

Tourism Industry.

1. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans he has to address serious concerns with regard to the British tourism market to Ireland which is our largest tourism market; and if he will review the destination marketing of Ireland programme contained in the national development plan. [26204/00]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid): The national development plan includes an allocation of £150 million for a tourism marketing sub-programme over the period 2000-06 and consists of two measures, a destination marketing measure and a niche marketing measure. Decisions as to the allocation of funding under this sub-programme are a matter for Bord Fáilte in consultation with the Tourism Marketing Partnership, a special group set up within Bord Fáilte composed of Bord Fáilte executives and tourism industry representatives.

Britain is our largest and most important tourism source market, accounting for more than 3.4 million visitors in 1999 or 58% of total overseas visitors and almost £800 million or 43% of overseas revenue. However, growth in visitor revenue slowed to 5% in 1999 compared to annual average growth of 15% in previous years. The British holiday market is among the most competitive in the world and is constantly changing. Although sterling remains strong, all foreign travel is cheaper and new exotic destinations now come within the reach of a wider number of British holidaymakers.

Latest intelligence for 2000 indicates that the length of stay of British holidaymakers to Ireland continues to shorten, with above average growth in short breaks to cities such as Dublin and Cork in additional holidays, at the expense of the more traditional main holiday. This is part of a long-term trend in the short-haul international tourism market, affecting all holiday taking. Shorter holidays are now the most dynamic growth sector affording us new and growing opportunities in that area.

Bord Fáilte commissioned an independent review of Irish performance in the British market within the past 12 months. I understand that, given the importance of the British market to Ireland, Bord Fáilte is already addressing, in full consultation with the industry, the current issues arising within the British market as highlighted in this review.

A combined industry and Bord Fáilte response is expected to emerge through the Tourism Marketing Partnership which will outline future strategy for the British market. Meanwhile, in the immediate term, Bord Fáilte will, I understand, be running a combination of brand building with a tactical advertising campaign which will highlight value for money and product options. Bord Fáilte state that it also proposes to work with the industry to develop a direct marketing approach to make the most of the potential for repeat business.

There is already provision for a comprehensive mid-term review of measures in the national development plan in 2003 which will include the operation of the destination marketing measure. The Deputy will be pleased to note that notwithstanding our concerns about the British market, official CSO figures for the first half of 2000 showed that total British visitors grew by 2%. I understand from Bord Fáilte that preliminary unpublished figures show there was further growth up to August.

Mr. Allen: Does the Minister agree that, despite peace on this island and the strength of sterling, it must be very worrying that the British market is becoming stagnant? Does he agree there is a fundamental change taking place in the attitude of British people to holidays and that studies and investment in advertising will not in itself solve the matter? Does he agree the competitiveness of our industry and access to areas outside our cities are important factors in coming to grips with what is becoming a major problem in relation to the British tourism market?

Dr. McDaid: Yes, there are problems associated with the British tourism market, as with other markets. I have pointed out to the Deputy that the British market is not just competitive to us but also to every other country. The Deputy pointed out the strength of sterling. Sterling is very strong throughout the entire European zone, including in France, Italy and Spain. There will be advertising of destinations which are exceptionally competitive.

Access to various parts of the country is a very important factor which we must continue to improve. Certain areas are over-congested as a result of the tourism bonanza which has taken place in the past ten years. I hope Bord Fáilte will continue to address this issue in the context of the North-South body which has been set up. I accept the market exists but the British market continues to be our most important market. Some 3.4 million visitors come from Britain. There was a certain downturn in the market last year but recent reports indicate the British market is again picking up. I returned from the World Travel Fair in London yesterday where all those involved in the industry indicated it was a bonanza week for them. There were dips in the market last year but I believe we are overcoming that downturn.

Mr. Allen: I am concerned about the Minister's sense of complacency in relation to the British market. Does he agree that the recent rail and airline strikes and the congested roads are a far cry from Ireland's image in the past of open roads and uncrowded countryside? Given the slowing down in the friends and relations tourism market to Ireland, does the Minister agree there is now a need for a major rethink in relation to the issue? Has he engaged seriously with the industry sources to establish what are the problems as they see it? Has he ensured that Bord Fáilte has consulted with the regional authorities involved in tourism?

Dr. McDaid: I am concerned about aspects of the research carried out in relation to the tourism industry and we have undertaken a review of that aspect. The Deputy is correct in saying there is a problem regarding visiting friends and relations. This is partly due to the fact that many people have returned from the UK to live in this country. That does not mean there is not a large proportion of people with Irish ancestry in the UK whom we must continue to target. Nevertheless, a small vacuum has developed in this area. I was the first Minister to give the regional tourism authorities a budget.

Mr. Allen: A sum of £8 million between them is not much of a budget.

Dr. McDaid: I am confident that the regional tourism authorities will grow in strength. In recent years I have noticed the different markets throughout the world-----

An Ceann Comhairle: I call Question No. 2.

Mr. Allen: A day trip to London will not solve the problem.

National Stadium.

2. Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the total estimated cost of Campus and Stadium Ireland at the latest date for which figures are available; if an application for planning permission has been lodged for the project and, if not, when it will be lodged; when construction will commence; if there has been discussion between his Department and CSID as to the minimum commitment required from national sporting bodies regarding the number of largescale events to make the stadium viable; if he will proceed with the stadium element of the project if no such commitment is given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26134/00]

Dr. McDaid: As I outlined to the House in reply to parliamentary questions on 10 October last, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited - CSID - estimates the cost of the development of the Sports Campus Ireland project, including Stadium Ireland, to be £550 million, to be funded from a combination of private and public sector money. This estimate covers the cost of an 80,000 seat stadium, where the cost remains at £281 million as outlined in the feasibility study, including a private contribution of £50 million. The cost also covers the other elements that will be provided in Sports Campus Ireland, including an aquatic and leisure centre, a multi-purpose indoor arena, multi-purpose indoor training halls and pitches, a sports science and sports medicine centre, headquarters for sports organisations, a visitor centre and other sports facilities to be decided in consultation with the Irish Sports Council.

The development is being undertaken on a design, build, finance, operate and maintain basis. CSID estimates that of the total cost of £550 million, the return related and fully funded private sector elements are in the region of £150 million. Taking account of the private donation of £50 million, the remaining public sector cost is estimated at £350 million.

Information in relation to the lodging of an application for planning permission and when construction of the various elements of the project will commence are matters for CSID. However, I can tell the House that CSID is proceeding as quickly as possible with the aquatic and leisure centre, with the aim of having it ready by the end of 2002 to enable the Special Olympics to take place there in the summer of 2003.

The feasibility study outlined that a minimum base case of six events per year was required to make the stadium viable. The study also outlined the positive response from the major sporting organisations to holding games in the stadium. Against the background of the findings of the feasibility study, CSID is having discussions with the national sporting organisations about the number of events that will take place in the stadium.

Mr. O'Shea: The Minister talked about the positive responses from the sporting organisations. I understand that the FAI would consider staging events with an attendance of more than 60,000 every six or seven years. The GAA foresees major games being played in the stadium and I understand there has been a more positive response from the IRFU. Are the commitments from sporting bodies any more firm than that?

Dr. McDaid: The company is in constant contact with the national sporting organisations. The Deputy is correct in stating that the FAI has indicated it might use the stadium every six or seven years. I have more confidence than that in the capabilities of the Irish team. Last night, during an unpopular time of year, more than 20,000 people attended a friendly match against Finland. All the national organisations have indicated their willingness to proceed with the stadium, including the GAA and the IRFU.

Mr. Allen: They did when they got a call from the Taoiseach's office on Tuesday morning.

Mr. Perry: That is a nice one.

Dr. McDaid: The stadium project will go ahead. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have given their full commitment to it. We are a modern, sophisticated and confident European nation. The Deputy has a right to inquire about costs, that is the right of public representatives. There is a political will to develop sporting facilities. As we are a sports mad nation I see no reason not to proceed with the stadium in this time of plenty. I have every confidence that the major organisations will support the stadium.

Mr. O'Shea: It must be inferred from what the Minister said that the FAI is not competent to design its own stadium. That organisation seems to assume that except for an occasion every six or seven years, a 45,000 seat stadium will be adequate.

Can the Minister say if the donation of £50 million from a private donor may be conditional on the setting up of an independent European soccer super-league, some of whose matches could be played in Dublin? The document of agreement contains no name. Can the Minister assure the House that the money emanates from a single individual and not from a consortium which may seek a franchise in the context of the league I have just mentioned?

Dr. McDaid: A private donation of £50 million has been made.

Mr. Allen: From an unspecified source.

Dr. McDaid: There were no stipulations attaching to the donation. I do not accuse the FAI of incompetence. A comprehensive report has been made by PricewaterhouseCooper. Members, particularly Deputy Allen who has held my portfolio, know there is a huge demand for tickets for major sporting events. I predict enormous demand for next year's soccer matches against Holland and Portugal and that will be two years before the World Cup.

Mr. O'Shea: The Minister is still implying that the FAI is incompetent.

Sports Funding.

3. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of sports capital grants applied for in the scheme that closed in February 2000; the total value of the grants applied for; the number of grants allocated; and the value of those grants allocated. [26205/00]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid): By way of public advertisement my Department invited applications for funding under the sports capital programme for 2000 during December 1999. The closing date for receipt of completed application forms was 11 February 2000.

By the closing date 1,650 applications had been received from clubs and organisations throughout the country. The total value of grants applied for was £184 million.

My Department then carried out a detailed assessment of the applications in accordance with the published conditions and criteria pertaining to the programme. Following this assessment process, grants totalling £36 million were allocated to 677 projects under the sports capital programme 2000.

Mr. Allen: This shows the real picture of sporting infrastructure in Ireland. Almost 1,000 clubs and organisations were disappointed in their applications for funding. Grants totalling £184 million were applied for and £36 million was allocated. The real story is one of primitive infrastructure. Will the Minister now reconsider his position regarding a national stadium? He proposes to invest almost £1 billion in a national stadium when almost 1,000 clubs have been refused grant aid. In many of those clubs young people are dressing and undressing on the sides of ditches and preparing for matches in antiquated dressing rooms. Will the Minister reconsider his decision regarding a national stadium in the light of these frightening statistics?

Dr. McDaid: I am delighted to say we are proceeding with the provision of facilities for all organisations. In 1995, when Deputy Allen was Minister of State with responsibility for sport he gave grants of £3 million. In 1996 he gave £5 million and in 1997 he gave £9 million. Last year the Government gave grants of £36 million, which is more in one year than the previous Government gave in its three years of office.

Grants to sporting organisations come from public money and criteria must be applied them. There are currently 1,300 applications for funding of £56 million. These projects are about to be started, being started or about to finish. Every grant application cannot qualify for funding.

Deputy Allen repeats the point about sports people changing on the side of the roads. I cannot imagine where the Deputy has been recently. I have been around the country and while I accept that some clubs work in very difficult circumstances, 96% of the applications I receive are the upgrading existing facilities. Perhaps the facilities exist thanks to money given by Deputy Allen. Sports people are becoming more discerning. They want better facilities and they should get them. Funding is being sought for floodlighting and so on.

Some of the £56 million will be returned to the Department of Finance because projects could not be started. Clubs are experiencing difficulties in finding people to do work on development projects. If we cannot spend £56 million, how can we be expected to spend £500,000, as Deputy Allen proposes? Is the Deputy proposing that plans should be drawn up and left idle? I am allocating funding to clubs which have the capacity to start projects.

Some clubs applied for small grants of between £5,000 and £5,000. The average grant last year was £53,000 and that is a huge improvement on previous years. There is political will, but the difference is that the stadium is a national project. It will be a national asset and the other people will be facilitated.

Mr. Allen: Unlike the Minister, I will not get involved in childish comparisons. The Minister knows the facts and why money was not as flúirseach in 1996 and 1997. There was no national plan then.

Dr. McDaid: It has nothing to do with the national plan.

Mr. Allen: I deal with reality and I invite the Minister to visit some of the clubs of which I am aware where people must dress on the side of ditches and roads because of a lack of facilities. Clubs are not getting money because the funding is spread so thinly on the ground. Clubs seeking £20,000 or £30,000 are receiving £10,000 or £12,000 and they cannot proceed with projects. I ask the Minister to consider prioritising the development of a national sporting infrastructure rather than putting £1 billion into what I term the Taoiseach's "doughnut" - all icing and sweetness on the outside but a big hole in the middle. This national stadium will be underutilised. At present, it does not have an anchor tenant and it will be a millstone around the country's sporting infrastructure for many years to come.

Mr. Perry: A Millennium Dome.

Mr. Allen: It will be an Irish version of the British Millennium Dome.

An Ceann Comhairle: We must proceed to Question No. 4.

Dr. McDaid: The average grant was £53,000.

Mr. Allen: Childish stuff.

Dr. McDaid: When the Deputy was in office, he was guilty of spreading grants around like snuff at a wake.

Mr. Allen: Different times and different places.

Dr. McDaid: Barely one project got under way. The organisations are at least admitting now that the new way of doing things is far superior.

Mr. Allen: The Minister should get his priorities right. He should put people before monumental egos.

An Ceann Comhairle: I call Question No. 4.

Mr. Allen: The Minister should put resources into real clubs

Dr. McDaid: I totally disagree with the Deputy.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair has called Question No. 4.

Dr. McDaid: He objected to facilities such as those at Dublin Castle.

Mr. Allen: I did not.

An Ceann Comhairle: We must proceed to Question No. 4. The time for this question has expired.

Mr. Allen: The national stadium will be a testament to monumental egos. It will do nothing for sport. There is no anchor tenant.

Mr. E. Ryan: It will inspire people.

An Ceann Comhairle: We must proceed to Question No. 4.

Tourism Employment.

4. Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the steps he will take to assist the tourism sector to overcome the current serious labour shortage especially in the hotel and catering industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26143/00]

5. Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in view of the staffing difficulties in the tourism sector, he will state the plans he has in place to maintain the current level of tourism here; the steps he has taken to provide lingual training for staff; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a huge drop in the level of service which our tourists are receiving in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26206/00]

Dr. McDaid: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.

The Irish tourism and hospitality industry has been an extremely vibrant one over the past ten years, catering last year alone for six million overseas visitors in addition to the rapidly expanding demand from the local domestic market and bringing over £2.5 billion in foreign exchange revenue into our economy. This success has created new challenges for the industry, not only in terms of maintaining its competitive position in an ever more competitive international environment, but also in the competition for staff in Ireland's tightening labour market.

Visitor attitude surveys conducted by Bord Fáilte give an indication of visitors' perception of service quality. The most recent such survey for 1999 suggests that while the rating of quality and customer service in hotels and other accommodation remains high, there is some evidence of slippage. The rating of quality and customer service in less formal types of accommodation has generally improved while the rating of customer service in food outlets has generally declined to some extent.

There is, therefore, no room for complacency and the tourism industry representative bodies and CERT continue to work individually and in partnership to promote careers and to encourage the adoption of world class standards in all aspects of the tourism and hospitality industry. However, the industry needs to further deepen its partnership with CERT which is actively encouraging and promoting the development of training capacity and better human resource management skills within the industry itself. Achieving this objective will be essential if the industry is to maintain its pool of highly motivated, productive and committed skilled labour to respond to market demand for quality service and value for money.

The Government has provided £107 million under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, to help industry secure and retain a professional and skilled workforce to meet existing and emerging needs in the sector, thereby enhancing the quality of tourism product and service. In this context, over £15 million has been allocated to CERT in 2000 to enable it to commence the implementation of its recently launched strategic plan 2000-2006, which is designed to deliver the objectives set out in the NDP for raising and maintaining the highest operational and human resource standards in tourism.

Initiatives to promote careers and world class service in the industry include the development by CERT of a new nationwide programme, which I launched earlier this year, to encourage people who have been out of the workforce for a long time to take up a career in the tourism industry. This follows another scheme launched in May 1999 in Ballymun, targeted at long-term unemployment blackspots which has proved very popular and successful with participants being virtually guaranteed jobs on successful completion of the courses.

CERT's annual careers roadshow was launched on 16 October 2000, it will visit a total of 16 venues countrywide and hold over 70 sessions in various second level institutions. It is targeted at second level students from transition year to leaving certificate level and is implemented in partnership with the major industry bodies, including the Irish Hotels' Federation, the Restaurants' Association of Ireland, the Vintners' Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners' Association. The roadshow is being advertised through local radio stations and newspapers. On 12 October I launched the careers magazine, Get a Life in Tourism. This magazine is a CERT joint venture with the industry bodies and highlights the variety of careers on offer in the sector.

CERT recently launched the new RETAIN initiative to help address concerns in the tourism and hospitality industry over recruitment and staff retention. Financial assistance of up to £15,000 over a three year period will be available, under certain conditions, to businesses for improvement in human resources management, which is the key to tackling the industry's staffing problems. These new supports are designed to attract participation in the scheme from firms right across the industry. Smaller companies, whose individual needs may not warrant a dedicated human resource professional, are being encouraged to consider joining others with a view to sharing a dedicated human resource executive. Alongside the new scheme, CERT will be running a series of courses for owners and general managers on modern human resource best practice.

In a separate effort to boost recruitment levels, I understand that tourism employers have participated in recruitment fairs in Scotland and Wales which have proved successful in attracting staff to Ireland. Recruitment drives are currently being considered for other European locations. Irish participation in fairs such as these is co-ordinated by FÁS, which welcomes employers to such recruitment drives. I understand the Irish Hotels' Federation, Irish hotel groups and individual bodies are also participating in EURES, the European Employment Service, to help satisfy labour shortages in the hospitality sector. Employers will also be encouraged to use the recently developed CERT induction pack for international workers.

On many occasions since taking office, I have urged the industry to become more proactive in addressing recruitment difficulties and labour shortages and to take appropriate steps to counter the perceived poor image of tourism as a career opportunity. In this context, I was particularly pleased to welcome the Irish Hotels' Federation's quality employer programme which was introduced over three years ago and is based on best practice in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, induction training, ongoing performance assessment, career progression and conditions of pay and employment.

The Restaurants' Association of Ireland's restaurant and customer charter is another good example of the type of initiative needed. In view of the importance of such initiatives, I am pleased to note that CERT will be organising a major conference on 27 November on "World Class Service in Tourism and Hospitality" for general managers and senior executives in the industry. Featuring a panel of international speakers and the findings of the latest international research carried out this year, the conference will focus on the best practice in human resources and operations management with a view to its adoption here.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: Does the Minister agree that finding the 145,000 workers required for the tourism industry over the next five years will be a major difficulty? Will the Department give a guarantee that it will assist the industry in language training for staff who are non-residents? Will the Minister support a call by the Irish Hotels' Federation for a tax break to entice homemakers back into the workforce? What initiatives is the Department putting in place to attract young people into the tourism sector? Will the Minister outline how the £107 million he mentioned in his reply will assist the industry in attracting new staff?

Dr. McDaid: Regarding the Deputy's question about the provision of funding for language training, that is not necessarily CERT's job. That is an element of the partnership with the industry and it has a large part to play in that regard.

I supported the industry's budget submission regarding tax breaks to encourage people back into the industry. Many people, including women who may have been involved in voluntary organisations or rearing their children, could come back into the industry. We want those people to return and a certain sector is being attracted back into the industry. Jobs are available in the industry, but it is not the only sector experiencing problems in attracting staff. The IT sector is currently considered lucrative by young people and other sectors are having the same problems as the tourism industry.

The schemes developed by CERT have been exceptionally successful in attracting the people I mentioned and also in disadvantaged areas. For example, in Dublin people found it difficult to get to the training centre in Sheriff Street, but when the centre's facilities were brought out to disadvantaged areas, the programme was filled immediately and there was a 100% success rate in terms of the young people involved getting work. The centre provided training and crèche facilities and it was an amazing success. I hope that can be repeated in the rest of the country.

That was the third part of the question asked by the Deputy concerning initiatives for young people, especially those in disadvantaged areas. They are very encouraged by the way in which CERT handled the targeting of the transition year and leaving certificate students with the new technique used recently where there was interaction between young people who had trained as chefs and who were able to get away from that or old idea that it was a poorly paid job. Young chefs or young people entering the industry now are very highly paid and sought after. There is a future for many young people entering the industry now. It is just a matter of getting over that old line of thinking among the people that we were servile for far too long and that we will never be servile again. The service area can be a badge of honour like it is for the French, Italians and the Spanish.

If the Deputy wants a detailed breakdown of how the industry plans to spend the money allocated under the national plan with regard to marketing, the product and how CERT will spend money, I will obtain the relevant information for the Deputy.

Mr. Perry: Would the Minister consider setting up a charter for the customer? A charter of contract is being set up by the regional tourism offices with Bord Fáilte currently, but we should start with the customer. What plans has the Minister with regard to the lack of basic information on how to recruit people from outside the EU? There is a serious deficit there. I disagree with the Minister. There is a huge language difficulty at the moment. There is also lack of appropriate skills among people employed in the trade and verification of qualifications is a new major problems. What plans has the Minister to deal with the legal, bureaucratic and cultural difficulties now clearly emerging among people from the non-EU countries working here? With regard to the attitude survey to which he referred, there is a great lack of service. There is an awareness that service in the industry is not nearly as good as it was because many people working in the trade are unable to communicate with the customers.

Dr. McDaid: The answer to the latter part of the Deputy's question relates to the rapidity of the success we have achieved over the past ten years. This city and country is becoming increasingly multi-cultural and long may it continue to do so. Regarding the language barrier, some people indicated to me that they would have a problem with language but that is not a matter for the Government or the Government agencies. It is a matter for the individuals to deal with. I point out to the Deputy that this country is renowned for the number of schools available currently to teach the English language. We are now the foremost country in Europe with regard to the English language teaching sector. There are excellent schools and a booming industry in that sector.

Mr. Perry: Despite all of that, the situation is that if one is in a hotel and orders fish, one could end up getting an omelette. It is no excuse to say that the economic boom is the reason for the inefficiency. It is important that people entering the trade know the business. What plan does the Minister have to ensure that people in the trade can employ suitable people? Regardless of what he said, that is not happening.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: The Minister is in denial with regard to language training - it is the greatest problem we have now. We are losing our traditional welcoming attitude. If the people behind the counter or inside the reception desk cannot speak English they cannot give a welcome. Without language training we are going down the wrong road. It is definitely the responsibility of the Minister's Department and I ask him again if he will assist the tourism product with language training for the people whom we are predominantly recruiting abroad. We will recruit 145,000 people over the next five years. What proposals are there? It is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.

Dr. McDaid: I welcome young people in particular, from other countries coming here because it adds to our country.

Mr. Perry: We all do.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: So do I.

Dr. McDaid: There are certain problems with the language but that is not a problem for the Government to deal with, it is a problem for the industry. It has been pointed out to me in the past that people would prefer to be served by Irish people. I would like to see Irish people in the service area but I have nothing against people from other countries coming into this country.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: Neither have we.

Dr. McDaid: This country has become multi-cultural which is a strength and I hope it will continue.

An Ceann Comhairle: We must conclude. The time for Priority Questions has long expired.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: I ask for just one minute. On a note of clarification I did not give the impression that I do not welcome people from abroad. I want to assist people from abroad coming in so that they can give tourists a better service. I abhor the accusation that I do not welcome people in from abroad.

Mr. Allen: There was a childish attitude in all the answers. There is a terrible level of complacency.

An Ceann Comhairle: That concludes Priority Questions. We must proceed to Other Questions. I remind Members of the one minute time limit on supplementary questions and the answers to supplementary questions.

Dr. McDaid: I did not imply that, but if the Deputy thinks I did, then I withdraw it. I added to what the Deputy had to say.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: I thank the Minister.

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