Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding which is allocated annually by Fáilte Ireland to St. Patrick's Day parades; the parades to which it is allocated; the basis on which that allocation is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14009/17]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for attending the House. I wish to ask about the amount of funding which is allocated annually by Fáilte Ireland to St. Patrick's Day parades and festivals. We all know the value of our national day to tourism, so I would like to know what St. Patrick's Day parades and festivals are funded by Fáilte Ireland and the basis on which that allocation is made.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I apologise for being late. When I was entering the Chamber a question was being answered by the Minister, Deputy Ross. I understood the question to be about whether I attended a meeting with him. I did not but a meeting was requested of my office in regard to the promoters of a scheme at Dublin Airport, which I facilitated in the context of tourism. I do that all the time. However, I want to apologise again for being late.

My Department's primary role in regard to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, which are operational matters for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. The provision of funding for festivals, including St Patrick's Day parades, falls to be met from the resources available to Fáilte Ireland from its national and regional festivals and participative events programmers. I am informed that in recent years the only application received by Fáilte Ireland in regard to St Patrick's Day has been made by Féilte Dhuibh Linne Teoranta which organises the St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin.

This year, St Patrick's Festival took place between Thursday, 16 March and Sunday, 19 March and featured events including street theatre, walking tours, literary, historical, music and sporting  events. To this end, a festival grant of approximately €1 million was allocated by Fáilte Ireland towards the cost of the festival in 2017.  This allocation is based on an assessment of an application which Féilte Dhuibh Linne Teoranta submitted under the National Festivals and Participative Events Programme and is subject to key performance indicators and a review of the benefits delivered by the festival.

It is open to any festival organiser to apply for funding under the National or Regional Festivals Programmes, which open for applications on an annual basis.  It is expected that these programmes will reopen for applications in August and December 2017, respectively.

Both the Minister, Deputy Ross, and myself have met with representatives of the St. Patrick's Day Festival committee in Dublin. It is my view that the St. Patrick's Day festivities should be celebrated across the country, but they also need to be supported. If the Deputy wishes to ask a supplementary question I can provide details on that matter.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response which confirmed that Dublin is the only St. Patrick's Day festival funded by Fáilte Ireland. We are all aware of the benefits that the capital city gains from this funding. Earlier this week, I noted an article in The Irish Timesby the chairman of the Grow Dublin Tourism Advisory Board, which indicated that the Dublin festival is worth €50 million in revenue. He also said that it attracts 100,000 tourists to the capital, as well as enhancing the city's reputation as a place to visit. I have no difficulty with that because it provides a good return on a solid investment. However, I would welcome the Minister of State's supplementary response concerning the funding of other festivals around the country. Every region should have an opportunity to apply for funding and get the benefits of the festival.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Last December I asked Fáilte Ireland to re-examine funding for St. Patrick's Day festivities across the country because I was not happy with a situation whereby only one location is funded. That is not appropriate particularly in the context of commitments in the programme for Government to balanced regional development. Whether St. Patrick's Day festivals are being organised in Athlone, Cork, Limerick or the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's own constituency of Donegal, Fáilte Ireland has a role to support them. I have therefore asked Fáilte Ireland to review funding in that regard.

There are perhaps greater opportunities to raise commercial revenue to support a festival of this order in Dublin than elsewhere, but there has to be an economic return for the State's investment through Fáilte Ireland. I believe that we can do a lot more around the country, so I am waiting to see what Fáilte Ireland proposes. I hope there will be changes for 2018 at the earliest.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his welcome comments on opening up funding for other areas of the country. I take his point that an economic return for funding these festivals is important. With so many tourists travelling around the country, however, it is also important to showcase all of our regions. I look forward to getting the results of that review.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with Standing Orders, I will allow a brief supplementary question from Deputy Troy.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the commitment by the Minister of State. I acknowledge that Westmeath County Council provides good funding for community groups in the various parades that are held there. Has the Minister, Deputy Ross, delegated some powers and functions to the Minister of State? It has been a matter of curiosity and concern both for the Minister and other Members of the House. Can he confirm whether or not those functions have been delegated to date?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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That is a matter for the Minister to answer if he so wishes.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to update Deputy Troy. The portfolio established by the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, has been reassigned by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to myself.

Deputies Naughton and Troy are right concerning funding by local authorities. This was why I asked for a review of funding for the St. Patrick's Day festival in Dublin. There is a greater opportunity in Dublin to raise such commercial revenues while, in addition, Dublin local authorities benefit through commercial rates. The load needs to be widened, particularly in Dublin where there is a greater opportunity for people to put more effort into raising revenue from the commercial sector.

Other parts of the country, such as Cork, Limerick, Galway and elsewhere, should have an opportunity to apply for State funding via Fáile Ireland, and I would encourage them to do so.