Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport the extent to which he has had discussions with the various stakeholders in the public and private sectors with a view to identification of a precise methodology to facilitate incentivisation of job opportunities and thereby assist economic revival [10703/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport his priorities with a view to enhancing opportunities for national economic recovery; if the employment creative potential has been quantified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10702/11]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport his plans to develop arts and culture as an area with potential for employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/11]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport his plans to ensure cultural initatives from his Department are used as a mechanism for job creation. [10843/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 35, 42, 43 and 101 together.

My Department has responsibility for the arts, heritage, the Irish language and the islands which I am confident will play a key role in the the country's economic recovery. Since taking office, I have met and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders across the various sectors within the remit of my Department and I know these sectors can and will continue to contribute to achieving Government objectives to support the protection and creation of jobs. While the arts, culture and creative sectors are important for the social, cultural and educative benefits they bring to communities around the country, they also constitute a significant sector of the economy, in terms of contributions to GNP and employment. As such, they can make an important contribution to sustainable economic recovery. Over 3.5 million people visited our national cultural institutions and other cultural organisations supported by my Department last year. The priority in 2011 is to ensure that what the national cultural institutions offer to the public continue to draw large numbers of visitors, both domestically and from abroad.

My Department also provides funding towards cultural initiatives aimed at enhancing the cultural tourism product and the provision of employment in the cultural tourism sector. This year Dublin Contemporary 2011 will be an internationally recognised and acclaimed contemporary art exhibition and event in Dublin and provide a highlight for cultural tourism in Ireland on a global scale. My Department continues to support the provision of genealogical research into family histories and encourage roots tourism. This is an area with huge growth potential.

Film, television and digital content production sits at the heart of the creative knowledge economy and represents an important investment proposition for Ireland. The Irish audiovisual industry can be a positive force for change and be part of a national solution to drive economic growth by providing high quality local employment; increasing inward investment; promoting "brand Ireland" and our "cultural ambassadors" who represent Ireland abroad; contributing to cultural tourism initiatives; and improving our export capacity culturally and financially.

As Minister with responsibility for heritage, Ireland's rich heritage can play a central role in national economic recovery. During my term of office I will promote the role which Ireland's heritage has to play in making Ireland an attractive destination for sustainable tourism and inward investment, both in terms of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department which operates Ireland's national parks and nature reserves and of our unique built heritage which distinguishes us and makes Ireland an attractive tourist location for both visitors and Irish people. While resources are limited, I will look to work creatively across the Government and with partner bodies such as the Heritage Council, the Irish Heritage Trust and other heritage interests in delivering high quality heritage protection and promotion.

The Deputies will be aware that Údarás na Gaeltachta, the State agency responsible for promoting the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht with the overall objective of ensuring Irish remains the main language of the region, also comes within the remit of my Department. Údarás na Gaeltachta encourages investment in the Gaeltacht through a range of incentives for new enterprises and support and assistance for existing businesses. I will be seeking to support it, within available resources, to continue its strategy of attracting new enterprises and investments and protecting existing employment in its client companies.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I listened attentively to the Minister's reply which reinforced the need to look to the private sector for future funding for cultural events. He stated he has already engaged with philanthropists in this regard. The Minister spoke eloquently about that fine cathedral in Cork. I remind him we have fine heritage buildings right throughout the country and in particular in Westmeath we have such buildings awaiting grant assistance from his Department. Can he give any indication of when those grants will be announced?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Deputy could be more specific in his contribution. I presume the Deputy refers to a number of heritage grants administered by the Department which will be announced shortly. I am visiting the Heritage Council tomorrow and I will bring to its attention his frustration with the non-announcement of these grants. I hope when they are announced the Deputy will be pleased that some of the projects to which he refers will receive grants.

St. Fin Barre's cathedral in Cork should be of particular interest to all of us, in particular to Deputy Ciarán Lynch and Deputy Sandra McLellan who represent Cork city and county respectively. It is of national importance and vital that the cathedral is properly preserved. We must ensure it is not damaged further by rain. Those grants will be announced shortly.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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How will the Minister's Department facilitate and support the full implementation of Fáilte Ireland's cultural tourism strategy? Is there scope in the strategy for co-operation with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There are two agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, dealing with tourism on the island of Ireland. The section of my Department dealing with tourism is located in Killarney, County Kerry. It is imperative that these bodies work in close co-operation with each other. Before Christmas I produced a policy document on tourism and I received feedback from the tourism industry which suggested a disconnection between Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. I suggested in my policy document that the two agencies should work from the same building. Tourism Ireland is a 32-county body which promotes the island of Ireland and which was established as a result of the Good Friday Agreement while Fáilte Ireland promotes indigenous tourism. I agree with Deputy McLellan on the importance of agencies working in close co-operation to promote our considerable number and quality of attractions to a broader market both at home and abroad, in particular from our main markets such as the UK, USA, Germany and other European countries.

The forthcoming visits of President Obama and the Queen of England will be very important showcase events for this country. It is hoped our cultural facilities will be highlighted and be on view around the world during these visits. It will be a great opportunity to sell our country and its cultural attractions.