Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Bill provides the basis to enable the continued provision of capital funding to the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, for the purpose of supporting tourism product development and the tourism industry. Section 24(1) gives me, as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the power to advance moneys provided by the Oireachtas to Fáilte Ireland.

Section 24(2) sets out the amount that can be advanced by the Minister to Fáilte Ireland for capital expenditure. Assuming that the allocated funding in 2022 is drawn down by Fáilte Ireland, the current limit of €300 million will be reached close to the end of this year, so no further voted capital funding can be then advanced to Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I put the Bill before the Dáil to provide for the new spending limit of €500 million.

I thank the Deputies for their engagement. As I have outlined, this as a technical enabling Bill. It has an important outcome in that it allows for the continued funding of Fáilte Ireland’s work in the area of tourism product developments. Gabhaim buíochas leis na Comhaltaí as a mbreithniú ar an mBille seo.

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