21 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the expected US tourist figures for this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

30 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will give details of the latest information available to her Department on the prospects for the tourist industry this summer; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

81 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she is optimistic that tourism will show an increase in revenue in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

84 Mr. V. Brady asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the Government's targets for tourism for this year; her views on whether the figures will be realised; and if she will give details in this regard.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 30, 81 and 84 together.

The Government's five year tourism targets require an increase in foreign tourism revenue to £1.23 billion for 1992, and current indications are that this figure will be reached, if not exceeded by year end.

Provisional estimates for the first five months of 1992 show a return to growth in overall visitor numbers with strong recovery in North America and continued growth in particular out of Mainland Europe. After the slight overall fall in visitor numbers last year, Bord Fáilte are aiming to achieve double digit growth in 1992 and numbers from North America are expected to exceed 400,000.