Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy. It is a key employer in our communities and adds to development in many of them, as does heritage. The Minister mentioned that tourism was worth almost €10 billion to the economy in 2019, which is very positive. She also mentioned the latest CSO figures, which are worth repeating. Irish residents took 13.3 million domestic overnight trips in 2022. These amounted to €2.9 billion in expenditure, which represents a 14% increase. This is to be very welcome in an industry that went through so much during Covid.

Recently, the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media heard a contribution from Fáilte Ireland that described the heart of its work to develop the spatial spread of tourism to four regional experiences. One of these is the Wild Atlantic Way, which will mark its tenth anniversary next year. It is unbelievable that the Wild Atlantic Way brand is already almost ten years old. This is to the credit of everybody involved with the brand. The other regional experiences are Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, Ireland's Ancient East and Dublin.

Fáilte Ireland told the committee about the growing demand by visitors to explore natural forest parks. As somebody who enjoys multiple walks weekly in local forest parks I ask the Minister whether she has plans, working collaboratively with Coillte, to expand and develop them. Coillte was involved in developing car parking in Mullaghreelan Wood outside Kilkea near Athy in south Kildare. It is a wonderful facility for people there. I am also aware of the overgrowth affecting my local walks. Those walks have potential but they need development. Is the Department looking with Coillte to develop these forest walks and expand this area of recreational tourism and its potential to bring in people?

I must mention an aspect that worries me and other colleagues. I refer to littering. I have been following this issue for a while. We are all aware of the beautiful countryside that we have which many colleagues have already promoted during the debate. We cannot ignore what is happening to many places with littering. My colleague, Senator Malcolm Byrne, tabled a Bill, as did I, on this matter. Recently, we were told that we are awaiting code of practice from the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, to develop and bring into practice the use of CCTV cameras against littering. We debated a Bill the last September and we are still awaiting the code of practice from the LGMA. It is simply not good enough. Our countryside is under attack and this is having a negative effect on our tourism potential. Many people I speak to raise this issue. If we look at some of the chat boards it is mentioned quite regularly. It is something in which the Department needs to get involved. The Minister has been active in every other aspect of the Department but this is something we need to highlight and explore.

Senator Carrigy mentioned counties Offaly and Longford and the just transition fund. He is also very familiar with Laois and Kildare. I will not leave them out. There is also a need there. We would appreciate, as always, the input of the Minister regarding these two counties accessing some of the very welcome money from fund.

When discussing this topic previously, I mentioned the night-time economy. I know the Minister is heavily involved with it. I welcome the announcement yesterday of €1 million for museums and galleries and the support for those availing of, and who are part of, the night-time economy. This is very important. Our capital city and our rural towns and villages need to roll out more to attract people at various times of the day.

It would be remiss of me not to speak about my home county of Kildare when I have an opportunity to speak about tourism and great places to visit in this country. Kildare is right up there with the very best of them. Just over a year ago the Minister joined us to launch the strategic plan for tourism in the wonderful Kilkea Castle, along with Aine Mangan and David Mongey. The plan outlines a vision for Kildare as a rural escape from the bustle of this city in which we are having this debate. The availability of a true rural escape is enhanced by the exceptional thoroughbred experience. I want to mention the National Stud again today. It is a jewel in the crown of tourism in this country. We are all very proud of it in County Kildare. Next year we will have the Brigid 1500 festival, with which the Minister is familiar. The Department has been involved in it. Kildare will be open for business next year to celebrate this great event and there will be much on offer.

I want to mention two other projects in which I am personally involved. The first is the Shackleton Museum in Athy. I have raised this issue with the Minister previously. Recent investment by Kildare County Council and the Department has made this a worldwide attraction and there is no doubt about it. The annual Shackleton autumn school attracts people from all over the world. When I was chair of Athy Municipal District Council, there were up to 20 different nationalities attending the festival. It shows the potential of the Shackleton brand to bring people from all over the world to a rural town such as Athy in south Kildare.

The other project I want to mention is the Barrow blueway, which is three quarters of the way to being finished. I have mentioned recreational tourism in Kildare and this is an exceptional example. In south Kildare, we are all excited to see what the project will bring. It has great potential for local people. There is Linda and Martin's Dilly Dally café, a little place that opened up along the route and that is already attracting people. It shows the potential for encouraging locals to get involved in developing tourism along the route. I look forward to the Minister officially opening the route, which we hope will happen later in the year. Kildare is open for business and we look forward to seeing all colleagues and visitors visiting the great county throughout the year.