Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I very much welcome this Bill and the increased availability of capital. I worked for Fáilte Ireland. It was my client when I worked in advertising and marketing. I was part of the team that started the process of marketing home holidays with the Right Here, Right Now and The Fun Starts Here campaigns, so I recognise the multiplier effect and how much our tourism proposition has changed over the years. It is not just about attractions but also about experiences and packaging them in light of the unique selling points that Ireland has to offer. The domestic market is important. After Covid, the local market has been also.

Over the past couple of years, there has been capital expenditure on larger projects such as Westport House. I wish to signpost places such as Dunsink Observatory, Dublin 15. The Liffey valley is another potential tourism project in Dublin 15 that should be considered. Fingal has its own marketing proposition but the whole area of Dublin 15, stretching from the starting point of the Phoenix Park, has much potential. As the Minister says, one could have strategic partnerships and collaborations involving the likes of cycling and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. We had our own time zone in Ireland at one stage and Dunsink Observatory was at the meridian line. There is much potential in Dublin 15 that I would urge the Minister's team to look in that direction.I thank the Minister for being here today, and particularly for mentioning the National Famine Museum in Strokestown Park. It is an amazing facility. Over €3 million in funding has been granted to the museum and the Minister was there at the opening of it. I like the joined-up thinking between Departments. Strokestown has also benefited from Town Centre First investment and the €200 million investment in the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue road project, which will bring more visitors to the region and will also take the heavy traffic out of the middle of the town. Christmas markets were on in Strokestown last week and the place was absolutely hopping. It is great to see it.

I want to focus on how we can increase accommodation capacity in these regions. One can travel long distances in many rural areas and there is no access to accommodation capacity for tourists to stay in the region. It is enough to bring them there, but we would like them to stay and to enjoy what we have to offer in the west of Ireland. In Ballinasloe we are very fortunate to have the new investment coming with the Dublin to Galway cycleway. That will bring more visitors to the area, which will be a benefit to our communities. I ask the Minister to comment on how we can maximise the potential that this groundbreaking piece of infrastructure will bring in the next three to five years.

Last Sunday I was invited to go on a battlefield walk in Aughrim, which is a few miles outside Ballinasloe. As we know, the battle of Aughrim was fought in 1691 and changed the history of Ireland and Europe. We need more investment. Currently, the site is owned by Galway County Council. It would be great to look at opportunities for how Fáilte Ireland might support the development that particular site for tourism.