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

I acknowledge Deputy McLellan's support for this initiative. She was present in a supportive capacity at the public occasions at which we launched the programme, including the occasion in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's heritage section. The town of Youghal has embraced this opportunity and is making something special out of it.

The project's future is one of my main priorities in office. Some 34 towns were designated heritage towns by Fáilte Ireland, primarily in the early 1990s. It seems that fewer than half of them are actively promoting themselves as such. I will revisit 31 of the towns and try to re-energise them. Some are availing of the brand whereas others are not.

Of the network of 21 walled towns, some also happen to be heritage towns. The walled towns network is an all-Ireland initiative and presents a great opportunity for North-South co-operation through Tourism Ireland, which promotes all of the island abroad, to expand the heritage town concept to Northern Ireland. The two categories can be marketed together.

I will extend the pilot scheme and will probably choose a further three towns based on certain criteria that I will outline. It is a worthwhile initiative. As Deputy McLellan stated, it is working in Youghal.

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