James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As previously stated, the Department is open to further engagement with Motorsport Ireland on this matter should the organisations engaging with the event promoter show that the hosting of the World Rally Championship in later years would be feasible. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, has informed Motorsport Ireland that his Department is prepared to consider supporting the hosting of the WRC in the years beyond 2025, if alternative hosting years are possible. He is also prepared to commit to an independent economic analysis in this regard. The Minister of State has written to Motorsport Ireland to reiterate this and to offer that organisation a meeting in the near future.

Major sports events have the potential to deliver a range of benefits to the State, including increased trade and tourism activity and furthering of sporting goals, as well as boosting national and community pride and well-being. Whether the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media or the wider Government supports the hosting of a major sports event in Ireland depends on a wide range of factors, as stated. These include the projected cost to the State, the expected economic benefits accruing to the State, the event's capacity to contribute to wider policy objectives, and alignment with national environmental and sustainability policies.

While various figures have circulated in the media regarding the potential economic benefit of hosting the WRC rounds in Ireland, it should be noted that the net economic benefit to the island of Ireland from hosting WRC rounds is significantly less than what has been reported in the media. It is imperative for the credibility of the event and the Government's own major events assessment process that the potential economic benefit of the current proposal is independently fully assessed. This will allow for a fuller assessment of the value-for-money proposition with regard to any investment made and will facilitate compliance with the requirements of the public spending code.

The major sports event unit in the Department has an extensive portfolio of events that are in the active planning stage, including next month's UEFA Europa League final, the 2027 Ryder Cup and the 2028 UEFA European Football Championship. That Department manages the assessment of new proposals for other major sports events, in parallel with the ongoing workload of supported events. The Department takes this function very seriously and allocates the time and resources needed to assess each proposal correctly and, if approved, helps to deliver the best possible event for Ireland.

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