Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to refer the Deputy to priority question number 77 (16367/09) which I have answered earlier today.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the fact that Tourism Ireland received €19.5 million in Budget 2009 and the Marketing Fund received over €48.5 million; the way Tourism Ireland can justify its budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16361/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Tourism Ireland was established on foot of the Good Friday Agreement and formally incorporated on 11 December 2000. The Company is accountable to the North South Ministerial Council with funding for its operations being provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and by my Department in the South in accordance with agreed ratios. The current agreed ratios are 3.4:1 for administration costs and 2:1 for marketing costs with my Department providing the higher proportion in both cases. The Tourism Ireland budget line is used to, inter alia, meet the costs of its staffing and offices in Dublin and Coleraine and supports its marketing presence in 22 locations overseas.

The Tourism Marketing Fund supports the marketing of Ireland internationally on an all-island basis, the marketing of access routes and the international marketing of niche special interest products.

Tourism Ireland's primary remit is to promote the entire island of Ireland as a holiday destination in overseas markets and it is generally regarded as being highly successful in this regard. Last year alone, over 7.8 million overseas visitors came to the Republic of Ireland generating an estimated €4.8 billion in revenue (including carrier receipts and cross border expenditure). Accordingly, I am satisfied that the money spent on overseas marketing is justified and provides real and significant benefits for the Irish economy.

Tourism Ireland prepares a detailed Business Plan for its activities each year to be approved by the North South Ministerial Council. The plan sets out in detail how its targets will be achieved and contains a specific section highlighting how value for money for all planned expenditure will be secured.