Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in view of the value of local race meetings in the development of regional tourism, his Department will develop a strategy to promote Irish horseracing meets internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19337/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland offers a unique racing experience to the race going public both at home and abroad. I am satisfied that Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), in close collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, is very much engaged in marketing that unique experience internationally.

HRI, as the national authority for racing, includes within its remit, the representation of Irish racing abroad. Through its board, its senior executives and its international marketing subsidiary, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, it promotes and enhances the reputation of the Irish thoroughbred industry internationally. HRI's five year Strategic Plan specifically prioritises the development and promotion of Ireland as a world centre of excellence for horse racing and breeding and I have every confidence that they are committing the necessary resources to that task.

I am aware that HRI carries out extensive promotion of Irish racing in the UK and works in close collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in this regard. My Department has encouraged synergies between the bodies and the parties now meet on a regular basis and work on a number of joint strategies for the UK market. Their combined trade stand at the Cheltenham meetings in November and March, promotes racing at all Irish racecourses and assists British racegoers in planning their visits to Ireland. The Irish Racing Festivals are particularly popular and the Punchestown Festival, in particular, is proving a major attraction for UK racegoers. Recent independent research carried out by NUI Maynooth indicated that almost 20% of the attendances at Punchestown Festival are from the UK.

Following the success of these initiatives in recent years, HRI and Fáilte Ireland have recently agreed on an additional joint programme to promote racing in Ireland in September. This is a unique month in Irish racing, providing a full spectrum of the racing experience from small local meetings to world-class contests including Laytown, Leopardstown, Galway, the Curragh and Listowel. It has been identified as an ideal opportunity to showcase Irish racing to a UK audience.

I also understand that HRI has invested significantly in upgrading its website, providing comprehensive information on all 27 Irish racecourses. Visitors to the website can also register to receive a weekly newsletter on Irish racing and copies of HRI publications such as the 'Courses for Horses' booklet, which includes recommendations on places to stay and things to do while attending any of Ireland's racecourses. The website is the most important point of contact between Irish racing and the international market and currently attracts some 150,000 visits per month.

This is a golden era for Irish racing, given the level of success achieved by our horses, trainers and jockeys, both at home and abroad which has contributed to the growing international reputation of Ireland as a world leader in the industry. I am confident that the combined expertise of the agencies will produce the right result for horseracing and for tourism and that the level of attendees from abroad, currently in the region of 70,000, can be increased.