Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department is currently developing a heritage-led historic towns initiative with Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council. My primary objective with this initiative is to ensure that the participating towns in the pilot scheme - Westport, Youghal and Listowel - will have access to and an understanding of appropriate guidance to assist them in best conserving their heritage assets. In so doing, they can underpin the sustainability of their communities and local economies. It is my hope that meeting these goals will also significantly enhance the visitor experience in these towns and will help to maximise the potential positive contribution of tourism to each of them.

Following the launch earlier this year of a framework document, funding has been allocated by my Department and by Fáilte Ireland to the three towns for projects in 2013. Each town will make an additional contribution in the form of direct financial aid or contribution-in-kind and the pilot phase will run through 2013 and continue into 2014. The pilot towns are currently implementing the steps set out in the framework document and each has set up a local historic towns initiative working group consisting of representatives from local government and community groups and other stakeholders. The local groups are responsible for drawing up a vision for their towns, with specific objectives supported by a clear action plan. It is intended that the first projects identified in the action plans will commence this summer.

I understand that the three town councils, with financial support from Fáilte Ireland, will shortly undertake a baseline survey to gauge the views of the local community, various business stakeholders and visitors regarding the issues they see facing each town. This survey will be used to monitor the effectiveness of the pilot phase of the initiative, its return in terms of heritage-led regeneration and the impact on tourism. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is too early at this stage in the project to provide a detailed report of its financial return in terms of heritage tourism.

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