asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport whether he has carried out any assessment of the loss to the tourist industry in the Cork/Kerry region consequent on the failure to continue the Cork/Swansea ferry; whether he proposes any measures to minimise that loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

An assessment of the tourism performance of the Cork-Kerry region since the cessation of the Cork-Swansea ferry service in January last will not be possible until a comparable regional breakdown of tourist numbers and revenue for the 1988 and 1989 seasons becomes available.

The ferry company had planned to recommence operations at Easter and pre-booked traffic has generally been accommodated on other ferries.

Bord Fáilte's overall target for 1989 is for an increase of 16 per cent in overseas visitor numbers. The board are confident that existing access transport capacity is sufficient to meet this target and that Cork-Kerry will maintain its position as one of our prime tourist areas.

The Minister says that Bord Fáilte have targeted increases this year, but the national plan published a fortnight ago says that it is intended to double the number of tourists in the south-west region by 1993. Can the Minister say whether that doubling of those figures includes the provision of a ferry?

No, it does not necessarily deal with ferries. The objective is that there will be a doubling of tourist numbers and an increase of 25,000 in the employment content in tourism and that there will be £500 million extra revenue generated over the period of the plan, and the plan is on target as of now. We have also, as the Deputy knows, an elaborate plan for the development of regional airports which will also impact on tourism in Waterford, Cork and the Farranfore area.

Surely the basis for doubling the numbers over a five year period must be based on some method of access transport and the Minister has already said it includes the upgrading of regional airports. The Minister must then know whether he has included a ferry in the plan?

We intend to attain the objective regardless of whether that specific ferry is available. The position is that I was very anxious that such a ferry should operate this summer. I made efforts in that regard but I am afraid that there will not be a ferry operating this summer on the Swansea-Cork line.

Is the Minister suggesting that the figures can be obtained without a ferry?

Yes, they will have to be.

If a ferry is included, the figures will be higher than that?

Not necessarily, but if they are I would welcome it.

Does the Minister see the contradiction in what he is saying?

No.

If the figures are to be increased a ferry is necessary and if it is necessary the Minister should be a lot more active in seeing that one is installed. There is a general feeling among south-west tourism people that there is no enthusiasm in Government circles for this ferry and that if there was it would be there this summer.

This is leading to argument.

Enthusiasm is a good word and enthusiasm generally can be gauged if somebody is willing to put his money where his mouth is. We offered £500,000 because of the tourism implications for the establishment of a ferry service. We then backed that up with the offer of an interest free loan to the company but they were unable to get a ferry for the season. The matter rests there. I understand that they have not given up hope of getting the service going in 1990. I will be the first to welcome their input into the tourist numbers in 1990.

May I ask a brief supplementary?

I will allow the Deputy a brief supplementary.