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

The Oireachtas joint committee report on developing rural tourism was published on 16 November 2023. The report covers a wide range of sectors, with responsibility for some of the issues highlighted resting with my colleagues in other Departments. On my own Department’s responsibilities, the report includes recommendations relating to tourism, film, culture and the Gaeltacht. My officials are currently examining this recently-received report and I look forward to giving a comprehensive response on each of the recommendations in due course.

I have asked Fáilte Ireland in particular to examine the recommendations in the report. I am pleased to note that work is already taking place on a number of the areas highlighted. For instance, with regard to the recommendation that my Department should consider ring-fencing funding for tourism businesses to develop their digital infrastructure, including digital skills for the workforce, Fáilte Ireland has already established “Digital that Delivers”, a ground-breaking initiative designed to power a digital transformation of the visitor experience sector. Another recommendation made is that my Department engages with relevant stakeholders to expedite the development of walkways, greenways, cycleways and blueways across all counties. While Failte Ireland does not lead on these particular projects, the agency has been a significant stakeholder since their inception and continues to contribute to their development.

The recommendations in the report will also be fully taken into consideration in the context of the new national tourism policy framework which is currently under development. The new policy framework will seek to mainstream environmental, economic and societal sustainability across the entire tourism sector. The new framework will shape how our tourism industry develops in the period to 2030. In this regard, while I want to see the sector grow, I want it to do so in a manner that is consistent with our broader sustainability targets and, ultimately, ensures that Ireland will be a brand leader in sustainable tourism practices.

I will shortly launch a public consultation on the new framework. This will primarily be based on the guiding principles of the report of the sustainable tourism working group but will also provide an opportunity for the public to provide any other views on what should be included in the new policy framework. I hope to have it finalised in the first quarter of next year.

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