As and from 28 May 2003, Bord Fáilte Éireann and CERT Ltd were dissolved and replaced by the National Tourism Development Authority, to be know operationally as Fáilte Ireland. The legislation to provide for the establishment of the new National Tourism Development Authority, the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, was signed into law by Uachtarán na hÉireann on 13 April 2003. On 21 May 2003, I announced the membership of the Authority and signed an order designating 28 May 2003 as its Establishment Day. Under the terms of the legislation, dissolution of Bord Fáilte and CERT was an automatic consequence of the establishment of the Authority. I was pleased to have the opportunity to address the first meeting of the Authority, which was held in Dublin Castle, on its Establishment day. In my address, I made a number of points Given that we must continually update the nature and quality of our tourism product to meet evolving consumer demands, I asked the Authority to bring an enhanced strategic focus to its product development functions. I conveyed to the Authority the view expressed by several Deputies, which I share, that the Authority should consider working in a more intensive way with tourism operators, particularly SMEs, to help them achieve what efficiencies they can and also to organise themselves to best exploit the opportunities available to them. The Joint Bord Fáilte Éireann|CERT Group, which laid the groundwork for the merger earlier last year, recommended that the Authority have a strong environmental focus which was well integrated with its product development function. I support that recommendation. There is, in my view, a need for balance, common sense and mutuality of interests to be established in debates on tourism and the environment, particularly on sensitive issues. I expressed the hope that the Authority will be a force to facilitate that. The Tourism Policy Review Group has recently issued its Interim Report. I asked the Authority to pursue some key issues from that report which it could drive forward straight away. Tourism does not exist in isolation. I told the Authority that I considered it a key part of its remit to make authoritative inputs to help both myself and my Department to influence wider policy areas of critical importance to tourism. Corporate governance is assuming major importance in the public sector and I asked the Authority to implement the new framework for corporate governance which was formulated earlier this year. The Authority will now commence work, under its Chief Executive, Shaun Quinn, on the drawing up of corporate and operational plans to guide its activities over the coming years.In relation to staffing, The National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, made provision for all Bord Fáilte and CERT staff to transfer automatically to Fáilte Ireland on establishment day. Section 35 of the Act provides for the transfer of the existing staff of Bord Fáilte Éireann and CERT Ltd. to the new Authority on terms and conditions no less favourable than those to which they were subject immediately beforehand. This provision is a powerful guarantee, which delivers a very high level of security to those involved and reflects a promise which I made to union representatives when I met them late last year. With regard to the ongoing discussions between management and staff representatives, the agreed facilitator adjourned talks on 23 May without agreement on all issues. I am glad to report that talks are due to resume again this afternoon, under the aegis of the Labour Relations Commission

Where a child must attend a primary school which is not the nearest primary school to where the child resides, a transport grant may be paid under the terms of the School Transport Scheme if my Department is satisfied that there are valid reasons for the child's attendance at that school and the child resides at least two miles from the school concerned.The School Tansport Section of my Department would be pleased to investigate a particular case should the Deputy wish to provide the relevant details.

Since taking office, one of my top priorities has been the promotion of quality in, and equitable access to, education including, in particular, higher education. If we are to break cycles of disadvantage, open up opportunity and optimise our broader economic and social potential we have to ensure the broadest possible level of participation in higher education. It is my over-riding objective that support has to be targeted at those who are most in need and at an appropriate level.This Government has ensured dedicated funding at an unprecedented level for third-level access programmes. Such funding has increased from a base of €508,000 in 1997 to €26m in the current year. This, together with targeted funding by the HEA (over €6m in 2002) and to the Institutes of Technology, has enabled the implementation of many of the key recommendations in the report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education to be set in train. I am committed to progressing these recommendations further. I was particularly pleased, therefore, to be facilitated by the Government to announce, on 25 May, 2003, a new package of measures costing €42m in a full year and for which provision will be made in the Department's estimates for 2003 and 2004 to further address and ameliorate the problems facing students from low to moderate income households in accessing third-level education.As the Deputy will be aware, this package combines substantial improvements in the level and coverage of the maintenance grant for those on low to moderate incomes, with increases in the level of "Top-up" grant for those who are most disadvantaged. I also granted approval in November 2002 for the establishment of the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education within the HEA which will be responsible for allocating funding for initiatives to promote equity in access. It is anticipated that the National Office will be in operation prior to the start of the 2003|04 academic year. In addition to the above named measures specifically designed to broaden access to third level education, I have also allocated more than €133 million in 2003 on measures at pre-school, primary and post primary level which provide additional financial and teaching resources for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, thereby encouraging their continued participation in formal schooling and increasing their chances of progressing to third level education. This includes provision in the following areas: - €7 million for pre-school programmes such as the Early Start Pilot Project which caters for pupils aged 3 to 4 years who are most at risk in areas of social disadvantage. - over €70 million for disadvantaged programmes at primary level such as the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, Home School Liaison Scheme, and the Giving Children an Even Break Programme; - €33 million for post primary level disadvantaged schemes such as the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and Home School Community Liaison Scheme; - €23 million for the School Completion Programme in 2003 which encompasses primary and post primary level and is a key component of my Department's strategy to discriminate positively in favour of children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gallagher):

I refer to the replies to Question No. 17 of 10 October 2002 and to Question No. 137 of 14 May 2003.

The total of 79 Blue Flags awarded in 2003 in relation to 73 beaches and 6 marinas maintained the high number of Blue Flags awarded in 2002. The loss of Blue Flags at three beaches in 2002 was balanced by the award or restoration of Blue Flags in three other areas.

The Blue Flag Scheme is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-Governmental organisation, and is administered in Ireland by An Taisce. The awarding or withdrawal of a Blue Flag is decided by FEE. My Department provides grant-aid to An Taisce as a contribution towards the administration expenses of the Blue Flag scheme in Ireland.

My Department requested a report from An Taisce as to the options and measures that might be pursued for increasing the number of Blue Flags awarded to areas in Ireland. I understand that An Taisce is currently undertaking research in the matter and aim to have the research report completed by August 2003.

My Department’s updated programme for investment in water services in 2002-2004 relates to 380 wastewater schemes with an estimated capital value of €2.6 billion, including all of the schemes needed for compliance with the requirement of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, the largest such project hitherto constructed in Ireland, will deal with the wastewater treatment requirement of all of Dublin City and South Dublin, significant areas of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal, and parts of County Meath. This scheme will produce the single biggest ever improvement in the quality of Irish coastal waters and will in time restore bathing water standards throughout Dublin Bay.

By the end of 2003 Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and many other smaller urbans, will have state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facilities in place and operational. Major schemes are well advanced in Cork, Limerick Galway and Wexford. Other major coastal schemes under construction, or due to start this year, include the Carrigaline, Cobh, Dungarvan, Sligo, Tramore and Waterford Main Drainage Schemes. Schemes for Bray, Bundoran, New Ross and Shanganagh are approved for funding to commence in 2004, together with the Arklow Main Drainage Scheme, subject to the outcome of current legal proceedings relating to the proposed location of the treatment plant in the latter case. This major programme of investment in coastal areas will have a significant positive effect on the quality of bathing water in the surrounding areas and should increase the possibility of blue flags awards.