Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific measures his Department is taking to support and grow the tourism sector in County Offaly, including investment in local attractions such as Lough Boora, the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the Grand Canal greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22676/25]

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current and planned initiatives by his Department to promote tourism in rural counties such as Offaly, particularly in the context of enhancing sustainable tourism, leveraging local heritage and natural assets, and supporting community-led tourism enterprises, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22675/25]

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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What specific measures is the Department taking to support and grow the tourism sector in County Offaly, including investment in local attractions such as Lough Boora, the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the Grand Canal greenway?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 120 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that tourism is now the policy responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Burke. Following the making of a Government order yesterday, statutory responsibility for the sector will transfer to the Minister, Deputy Burke, from 1 June. However, I can say that the Government recognises the central importance of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and communities.

County Offaly is included in Fáilte Ireland's Ireland's Hidden Heartlands regional tourism development strategy 2023-27. This roadmap sets out a strategic approach to unlock the commercial potential of the region while ensuring development is sustainable and benefits accrue to local communities and protect our natural environment. Since its inception in 2018, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands has made a significant impact on the promotion of tourism while showcasing natural assets and local heritage and giving support to the surrounding communities.

Fáilte Ireland is also actively working on the ground in Offaly in 2025, meeting with communities across the county to help them understand the opportunities tourism can offer and also to guide them towards relevant Fáilte Ireland supports. Fáilte Ireland is working in alignment with other stakeholders in the county, including Offaly County Council, Offaly Tourism and Offaly Local Development Company.

The Slieve Bloom mountain biking trail was officially opened in April 2023 and is part of the international mountain biking project, which received an investment of approximately €13 million through the rural regeneration and development fund. The trail is the most extensive one built to date in Ireland, with more than 80 km of trail riding. It positions Ireland as one of the best international destinations for trail riding. A project is also under way to replace and upgrade pedestrian-cycle signs for Slieve Bloom trailheads in towns. This project has now moved to installation phase, which is due to be completed in 2025.

Under the just transition fund, Bord na Móna has been awarded €3.6 million towards the creation of up to 79 km of new walking and cycling trails across suitable parts of the Bord na Móna land bank, including the following areas of Offaly: Offaly east between the Grand Canal greenway and Mount Lucas; and Offaly west between Clonmacnoise, Ballynahown and Lough Boora. The Grand Canal greenway, a 70 km cycle and walkway connecting west to east Offaly, was officially launched in October 2024. This greenway offers an opportunity for tourism businesses to optimise their potential and improve the visitor experience and commercial performance in the area. As the Deputy is aware, greenways are under the remit of the Department of Transport, but I am advised that Offaly County Council is working in partnership with Waterways Ireland and Bord na Móna to support industry and communities to develop amenities and maximise the potential of the assets within the county.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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While investment in Clonmacnoise and progress on Birr's telescope are welcome, Offaly remains one of the most underpromoted yet richly endowed counties for tourism in Ireland. We have an incredibly varied and beautiful landscape, including the Slieve Bloom Mountains, lush farmlands, boglands, greenways, rivers and lakes. Our heritage is world class - Clonmacnoise, Birr Castle, Croghanhill and Durrow Abbey, which is the original home of the Book of Durrow, one of Ireland's most treasured manuscripts. We are also home to Tullamore Dew, which is a globally recognised whiskey brand, and vibrant waterways with towns like Banagher and Shannon Harbour. When I hosted New Zealand's ambassador to Ireland recently, he was taken aback by Offaly's natural beauty and untapped tourism potential. While I welcome all we have done, we need to concentrate more on smaller counties like Offaly to promote tourism in the country.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I will pass on the Deputy's remarks to the Minister, Deputy Burke, who is a neighbour of Deputy McCormack. I do not disagree with much of what the Deputy said. I was previously a Minister of State at the old Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and I also had responsibility for the OPW. I know one of the principal national sites of the OPW is Clonmacnoise. I met with Offaly County Council when I had responsibility for the OPW to see what it wanted to do around the strategic use in a sustainable way of Clonmacnoise and how it could be of benefit to the surrounding towns and villages. I would encourage the collaboration between the OPW and Offaly County Council.

If it continues, there are probably opportunities through the schemes I have already referred to, such as rural regeneration and development funding, which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Calleary. There are opportunities for State agencies to be the lead agency with responsibility for making applications for that type of funding. I am sure from what I heard when I met representatives of Offaly County Council in the OPW, that it is their intention to use the strategic assets they have around the county, particularly those that are under the auspices of the OPW, to benefit the towns and villages in County Offaly.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. While his continued support is appreciated, it is crucial that we move from potential to progress. The Offaly tourism plan is a strong foundation but it needs national-level commitment to truly deliver. The Book of Durrow, one of Europe's oldest illuminated manuscripts, deserves to be celebrated in its original home, yet Durrow Abbey remains closed. Sites such as Lough Boora and the Slieve Bloom trails are ideal for ecotourism but lack the investment and infrastructure to thrive. The EU just transition tourism regenerative fund sparked remarkable engagement from local businesses and community enterprises but its tight deadlines were a barrier for many. The appetite is there; we just need the tools.

Will the Minister explore a longer-term funding programme to focus on community-led regenerative tourism in just transition counties? Can we look forward to Offaly being prioritised for future pilot projects in sustainable rural tourism, given its diversity in assets and the strong local momentum?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has made some positive suggestions about areas in his county that he knows intimately. One of the best things to do would be to have direct engagement with the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, perhaps with some of the other Oireachtas Members from County Offaly. The county council has already done much of the preliminary work. As a man from the neighbouring county of Westmeath, I am sure that the Minister, Deputy Burke, is acutely aware of the potential of the Hidden Heartlands brand of Fáilte Ireland. That all came from the successes of the Wild Atlantic Way and the need for a similar brand in the midlands. It has proven to be positive.

The Shannon is one of the best assets the county has, and not just because it flows to Limerick. It is an amazing amenity. I have used the boats on the river during holidays. There is a lot going for the county. The best thing to do would be for the Deputy and the other Government representatives from the county to sit down with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and Offaly County Council to see what is the best way forward in terms of engagement with State agencies.