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

The Lough Derg: Visitor Experience Development Plan 2020-2024 and action plan outlines the strategic direction that Fáilte Ireland and various agencies, including three local authorities, are working towards in the development of Lough Derg and its environs as a tourist destination. Tipperary County Council is also focusing its work on Lough Derg through its Tipperary Transforming: Tourism Product Development Plan 2020-2030. A tourism master plan for the Shannon was commissioned by Waterways Ireland in strategic partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the local authorities within the Shannon region. The objectives of the master plan are to reposition the combined Shannon navigation and Shannon-Erne waterway as a key tourism destination within Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, setting out a bold and integrated framework for sustainable tourism development along the Shannon.

During the most recent tourism season, Fáilte Ireland's national Discover Ireland advertising campaign included Lough Derg in the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands programme brand on TV and radio. On an ongoing basis, Fáilte Ireland is supporting Destination Lough Derg under the auspices of the Lough Derg Marketing Group, with support provided to discoverloughderg.ieand familiarisation visits by media and tour operators. Fáilte Ireland supports the Adventure Lough Derg initiative, which covers three counties. Fáilte Ireland also supported Quest Lough Derg in September as part of the Quest Adventure Series. The event was very well supported and it is planned to have the event back on Lough Derg in September 2023. Fáilte Ireland supported the Field Exchange event at Brookfield Farm at Coolbawn, County Tipperary, which took place throughout the summer. Fáilte Ireland also supported the World Fireball Championships at the Lough Derg Yacht Club in Dromineer in August and is currently in discussions regarding an additional swimming challenge event on Lough Derg in 2023.

The Lough Derg greenway, a proposed 24-km long walking and cycling path connecting Ballina and Dromineer in County Tipperary is at phase 1, concept and feasibility. Public consultation was conducted in September 2022 and the response was very positive. The second platform of Fáilte Ireland's platforms for growth capital investment programme is focused on developing water sports activity facilities across the country. Centres in Dromineer and Ballycuggeran have been allocated funding by Fáilte Ireland. Tipperary County Council has recently received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála and Clare County Council is awaiting the outcome of its planning application.

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