Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Noonan. We now know that our tourism industry will not have a summer season this year. As a result, we urgently need to plan for the following year instead. We have a chance right now to redefine our tourism strategy and how it will work for us in the future, especially for areas outside Dublin. Ireland is divided in the country, with a few high-profile tourist attractions which are isolated from the nearby villages and towns where many of us live. It was great last year to see the Destination Towns scheme operated by the National Tourism Development Authority. Many regional towns and cities, including my city of Limerick, benefited. However, the scheme was hampered by a narrow focus. It did not have an integrated approach to our destinations. Many wonderful rural towns and villages lost out because of requirements in the scheme that winning destinations had to already have 300 tourist beds to qualify, together with a standing large tourist attraction. There can be no doubt that there is great potential for tourism to be a strong driver for regional development but only if we break down the barriers between what is good for people living in the regions and what is good for people visiting them. My point is that vibrant towns and villages are needed for both residents and tourists. Tourism and regional development policy must have this core principle as its premise, taking advantage of the rich built, natural and cultural heritage in our regions.

Will the Department run a scheme similar to the Destination Towns scheme in order to aid the upcoming crucial 2021 tourist season in Ireland? Will it work with other relevant Departments to make sure that our small regional towns and villages are eligible to apply, so that both the residents of and visitors to these towns and villages benefit from the development and maintenance of their public spaces, market squares and historic streets?

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