Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to the Deputy for raising this issue. I applaud the fact that he is consistently on this worthy case and I hope I will be able to satisfy the Deputy that the north west and Border regions are taken seriously in the realm of tourism.

At the outset, I must point out that, with the exception of supports for greenways projects, tourism development funding is channelled through Fáilte Ireland which is responsible for regional tourism development. Under the tourism action plan 2019-2021, Fáilte Ireland will continue to develop and enhance tourism experiences as part of Project Ireland 2040. The aim is to develop things to see and do and increase regional spread, extend the season and promote sustainable growth. This applies across the country, including to the north west and Border counties of Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. Fáilte Ireland does this work through the relevant tourism experience brands such as the Wild Atlantic Way. These brands guide both the capital investment as well as current spending on festivals, events and marketing and other supports for the region. The north west and Border counties vary in their offerings to tourists and traverse a number of experience brands. These include the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East. Fáilte Ireland is investing in the tourism in these counties through the grants scheme for large tourism projects and, more recently, through platforms for growth, which I launched last month. The region has also received national and regional festival funding and business supports for tourism operators to respond to the challenges of Brexit as part of the package I secured in last year’s budget.

Last July, following publication of the strategy for the future development of national and regional greenways, the Minster of State, Deputy Griffin, and I announced a funding call for greenways. In response to the funding call under that strategy, I hope to be in a position to announce awarding of funding to the successful applicants in the coming weeks. However, a number of greenways in the north west and Border regions are already being developed. These are being co-funded by the INTERREG programme, the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure and my Department.

The north west greenways network project has been awarded €14.8 million, phase two of the Ulster Canal greenway project has received almost €5 million and the Carlingford Lough greenway project has been granted a total of €3.46 million.

Although these greenways are focusing on switching cross-Border journeys from car to bicycle, there will be tourism benefits from them all.

Fáilte Ireland is partnering with the Department of Rural and Community Development on the outdoor recreation infrastructure fund 2018, which has provided funding of almost €11 million for 78 projects across 24 counties, including counties Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan and Mayo. In addition, Fáilte Ireland is working closely with that Department on the rural regeneration and development fund to deliver quality visitor experiences nationwide to ensure local communities can benefit economically and socially from tourism growth .

I am keenly aware how important British visitors are to the Border region and how Brexit could potentially impact on this. The Deputy will be interested to hear that last week the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, launched a new strategy to grow tourism from Britain to Ireland which was developed by the three tourism agencies on the island of Ireland. The strategy aims to grow revenue from British holidaymakers by over 25% to €705 million by 2022 and will be of particular benefit to north-western and Border counties. Tourism Ireland continues to promote the north west as part of its promotional programme in key markets overseas, including the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route, and promotes direct access to the north west through co-operative marketing campaigns. These investments are crucial, not least because growing tourism across the country and the seasons is a key part of the Government’s tourism policy and I see great potential in this region to contribute to that ambition.

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