Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The breakdown of the total Exchequer provision for tourism services by subhead will be available in the Revised Estimates Volume, REV, for public services which will be published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is not possible to provide details of the specific amounts allocated to the various subheads within the Vote in advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume. I am delighted to have secured a 26% increase in funding for the tourism sector in budget 2019, which represents the largest increase in the tourism budget in 15 years. This increased funding will allow Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to continue to grow tourism regionally and across the seasons in line with key policy objectives.

Brexit has already had an impact on tourism, and funding has been allocated to the tourism agencies to ensure that the tourism sector is Brexit ready. In this context, Fáilte Ireland will implement a programme which places a focus on retaining business from Northern Ireland and Britain while also offering supports to enterprises to equip them for the post-Brexit marketplace. Tourism Ireland will implement the recommendations of a recent review of its operations in the British market and extend the regional co-operative market access scheme.

The increase in the tourism marketing fund will also enable Tourism Ireland to begin implementing growth strategies in new and emerging markets, along with Germany and the USA, in line with the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy. Tourism Ireland will also be able to increase its investment in digital tourism marketing.

As well as helping meet the challenge of Brexit, additional funding secured for Fáilte Ireland in budget 2019 will help to build resilience into the industry through a multi-strand programme of specific industry supports, festivals and events and targeted marketing campaigns. In line with the national development plan, NDP, the capital allocation to Fáilte Ireland for tourism product development has been increased to enhance tourist attractions and Ireland's activity-based offering.

The development and sustainability of Irish tourism will be further supported by funding targeted at growing high-yielding event and business tourism. This includes provision to support Ireland’s hosting of Euro 2020 matches and, in particular, related promotional activities to be undertaken in 2019.

Extra funding has also been allocated to greenways for 2019. This will be drawn down by projects that are successful under the current funding call which closes on 30 November 2018. It is planned to allocate greenways funding in 2019, following assessment of the applications.

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