Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The straightforward answer is "Yes". Fáilte Ireland's role regards the development of capital and the domestic element of tourism.

I took the National Tourism Development Authority Bill through Committee Stage.

Fáilte Ireland is as anxious as I am that the spending ceiling which had to be lifted to €150 million would not be seen as a target but would be seen as something that we would try to achieve in a very short period of time. Through its capital programme, Fáilte Ireland is very anxious to engage with the private and public sectors and with local authorities to determine the demands around the country in terms of building infrastructure and tourist attractions. The Deputy's own constituency has perfect examples of how that is being done. Fáilte Ireland's role, to be fair, has really taken off in the last number of years, particularly with the advent of the branding of the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East. It has sufficient funding to continue the development of that.

I referred earlier to new loops that are being taken off the Wild Atlantic Way which are being promoted in collaboration with local authorities. They will receive financial support from Fáilte Ireland by way of signage, marketing, maps, social media advertising and so forth. Similarly, support will be provided for Ireland's Ancient East for a signage programme and for capital investment that Fáilte Ireland has identified in particular sites. Every State agency will say that it does not have enough money but Fáilte Ireland is sufficiently resourced to carry out the work it is empowered to undertake under the National Tourism Development Authority Act.