Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for the up-to-date position on the development of a tourism plan for the Muscraí district to include the Gearagh, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50804/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I must tell the Minister about this magnificent place, the Gearagh, which is right beside Macroom. It formed after the last Ice Age. It is the remains of a post-glacial alluvial rainforest. It is a magnificent place. Migrating birds have nested there for many generation as they travel north to south and back again. People, whether local or international, may not know it well. We want to bring this wonderfully magnificent place to the attention of more people in order that they can share and enjoy it. Can the Minister provide an outline of what efforts are being made to promote the Gearagh?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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First, I should say that we will have a new tourism plan, hopefully in the next month, following consultation right across Government. That should be a good response to where we need to be for future-proofing the sector.

I should clarify that the promotion and operation of regional tourism is a matter for the local authorities, Fáilte Ireland and other tourism stakeholders. Cork is represented by three regional tourism brands, namely Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.

Fáilte Ireland's regional tourism development strategies for the period 2023 to 2027 provide a roadmap for the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in tourism. The development strategies set out a strategic approach to unlocking the commercial potential in each region. They ensure focus on tourism development is sustainable and regenerative and that the benefits accrue to local communities and to nature. To activate these strategies, Fáilte Ireland has established localised five-year destination experience development plans, DEDPs. These local development plans are highly collaborative in nature, involving local stakeholders, and are reflected in agreed action plans where ownership is assigned among the various parties.

The west Cork and Kenmare DEDP, which encompasses Muscraí, was launched in quarter 4 of 2023 to efficiently manage the delivery of actions within the DEDP. Three thematic subgroups were established based on the prevalence of actions emerging in this plan, namely artisan food, outdoor activities and marketing. In 2025, Fáilte Ireland has worked to create six new thematic itineraries for the destination which focus on, food experiences - including high-end food, both coastal and inland - outdoor activities and eco car-free travel itineraries. In addition, the Muscraí tourism action plan is incorporated into the work of the destination experience development plan implementation group.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the huge work that has been done in developing the west Cork and Kenmare development plan. As part of that, there is work also with Údarás na Gaeltachta on developing the Muscraí plan. Muscraí is very much focused on the Gaeltacht area. There is an amazing offering between food, culture, language, the landscape and so much more. The Gearagh is right on the edge of this; it is not the central focus of that plan. It is an amazing nugget on a corridor between the large population centre in Cork, the airport and right out to the Wild Atlantic Way. It is almost slipping between two stools. Can some effort can be made to bring the Gearagh to the fore and to get greater awareness of it?

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Moynihan for his question. Absolutely, I am open to working with the Deputy on that. Maybe we could set up a meeting with Fáilte Ireland to see what is specifically being done for the Gearagh to ensure that the message about its natural beauty is being advertised. Údarás na Gaeltachta and Fáilte Ireland met recently to form a strategic partnership. They have signed a memorandum of understanding detailing their commitment to the area, particularly on the Gaeltacht side. In the context of the Deputy's specific question, I would be happy to set up a meeting to try to see how we can unlock the potential that exists.

One of the key issues in tourism that I am focusing on is trying to see how we get performance indicators into the tourism policy. We are spending a great deal of money. The sector is probably worth €8 billion or €9 billion at present. It has stabilised. It has got back to where it was prior to Covid. We had extraordinary growth last year. It stabilised this year, and it presented some challenges. In relation to a number of matters, including the cap, enhancements to the business sector and growing the SMEs, it will provide a strong value offering. I suggest that we could have a meeting with Fáilte Ireland on the matter to see where we might take things from there.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The proposal to meet with Fáilte Ireland is both positive and one we should take up. There are a number of stakeholders involved. Having ESB, which is the landowner, participating in such a meeting would be very important, particularly as it owns the Gearagh area, which is part of the Lee reservoir. While they have done some work on bird hides, walkways, etc., many feel that there is a lack of energy or interest on the part of the ESB in advancing and promoting the Gearagh. There is limited signage on site for interpreting what is there and limited car parking. Many locals and stakeholders would also feel that there is limited interest on the company's part.

It would be important to engage with or energise the ESB, given that it owns the land. Even if it was not interested in continuing at the site, there is a possibility of transferring the land to a body like the NPWS while allowing the ESB to continue as the authority for operating the reservoir.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to bring in the stakeholders to see how we can improve the offering. I have no objection to that, especially when, as the Deputy has well described, the asset could have great potential. That is what we need to do. We need to get back to the authentic beauty that Ireland has to offer and the authentic céad míle fáilte that we are so renowned for worldwide. We can do a huge amount of work on that in the upcoming tourism plan, on which I look forward to working with all my colleagues. The tourism officer has had a number of meetings with the DEDP implementation group. I would be happy for us to do further work, have that meeting and talk to the various stakeholders.