Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport following his recent remarks on cruise liner potential for Dublin Port, if he will engage with the stakeholders in the mid-western region to develop the potential for cruise liners to call at Foynes Port, County Limerick. [20003/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Shannon Foynes Port Company, one of the State commercial port companies, is actively engaged in marketing the area as a destination for visiting cruise liners. The company works closely with other development agencies, including Shannon Development and the Cruise Ireland marketing co-operative, in promoting the potential of the area. I am informed that a total of five cruise liners are expected to call at the port this summer, compared to last year's total of four.

The Cruise Traffic and Urban Regeneration Plan in Dublin, the launch of which I attended in June, is a good example of local authorities and a port company working together to develop this growing sector of the tourism market. I would encourage the relevant stakeholders in the Shannon area to work closely in further developing the potential of the area as a port of call for visiting cruise liners.