Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding available to support the Cultural Tourism Initiative in 2009; the way this funding will be distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10953/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As I informed the Dáil on 3 March, I met with the heads of fifteen State tourism agencies, State arts bodies, and the cultural institutions, on 11 February, to begin the work of further developing the cultural tourism market. This was the first step in putting in place an initiative to further develop the potential of cultural tourism.

This initiative will build, in the first instance, on cooperation and synergy between the bodies and institutions under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. I wish to set in train a programme of specific actions, by these bodies, that will enable Ireland to more effectively market cultural tourism and address the needs of overseas and domestic tourists who wish to experience Ireland's cultural and artistic resources. It is not envisaged that such actions will necessarily require additional funding as existing general resources and programmes are likely to be capable of being employed to support the objectives of this initiative.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there is a sports tourism initiative in place; if so, the level of funding that has been set aside to develop this aspect of the tourism market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10954/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The International Sports Tourism Initiative was introduced by the Government in 2000 to support the then Bord Fáilte's efforts in attracting major international sporting events, with tourism potential, to Ireland. Since its inception the International Sports Tourism Initiative has supported a total of 148 international sports events in Ireland. Together these events have attracted widespread international media coverage and a considerable number of additional overseas visitors to Ireland, generating significant revenue for the Irish exchequer. Major events have included the Ryder Cup matches, two rounds of the World Rally Championship, the Irish Open and in May this year, the Volvo Ocean Race.

The level of funding provided to support the initiative in each year depends on the number and scale of events involved and their estimated benefits in terms of visitor numbers and international media coverage. As the initiative is administered by Fáilte Ireland, the level of funding provided is a day-to-day matter for the Agency itself.