Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the tourists visiting the west Cork region during 2011; the major attractions that they visited; the obstacles he perceives to greater growth of this sector in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1353/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The collection of statistics are primarily a matter for the Central Statistics Office (CSO). I understand that the CSO does not provide a regional breakdown of statistics in their monthly 'Overseas Travel' publication. I am aware, however, that Fáilte Ireland, provides an estimated regional breakdown of overseas visits on an annual basis, based on research of its own as well as available CSO statistics. The most recent full year figures are for 2009 with provisional figures available for 2010. The data is available, on a regional and county basis, under Tourism Facts / Tourism Regions in the Research and Statistics section of the www.failteireland.ie website.

In regard to 2011 figures, I have asked Fáilte Ireland, if possible, to provide the Deputy with an estimate of the number of tourists to West Cork during 2011 together with the attractions they visited. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

The obstacles to growth in the tourism sector in West Cork are similar to those in the rest of the country, namely the difficult economic conditions in overseas markets and here in Ireland. The Government is assisting the sector, in particular by maintaining this year the VAT rate cut, introduced in the Jobs Initiative in 2011. There is also provision in 2012 for expenditure of more than €138 million on tourism services across a diverse range of activities including overseas and domestic marketing, investment in the development of our tourism product and providing tourism enterprises with a range of business supports.