Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We appreciate the point, and that is why Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the OPW and all the agencies work together. Deputy McLellan is quite correct. We have proven the point in the past year, with a 7.2% increase in tourism. It has been phenomenal - the best increase since 2008, and from North America the best increase ever. Last year we received the most visitors from America ever and that, in itself, is an achievement. That is why Fáilte Ireland has put the investment into Derrynane House in Kerry, Garnish Island in Cork and Killarney House in Kerry.

As the Deputy will be aware, it is Fáilte Ireland that makes the decisions on this funding. I am glad to see the spread of this funding, particularly for heritage sites all over the country, because many thousands of visitors who come into this country want to get the location of these sites to visit and it is important that the OPW, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht work together with the State agencies to ensure that we keep this product at the top of the list.

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