Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media

Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion

Mr. Cian ? Lion?in:

While I am not intimately familiar with that project, it is an issue that is happening across the board. I see it, for instance, in sports investment, where adequate money was given three years ago and is now proving inadequate. On this particular project, I will be happy to talk to Fáilte Ireland and get its advice, and if there needs to be engagement with our sister Department in support of getting the project off the ground, we can absolutely do that.

Certainly, the collective message from this side of the table is that there needs to be steady investment in key tourism infrastructure. That needs to happen every year. The market needs to keep evolving to maintain Ireland as an attractive place and to draw people to the regions. We are happy to engage with Fáilte Ireland and with our colleagues in the Department of Community and Rural Development on that as well.