Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the current status of the Gathering initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8589/12]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Gathering will be formally launched; the mechanisms for community groups; and members of the public to get involved. [8872/12]

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Gathering will be formally launched; and the way he intends community groups and members of the public to participate. [8628/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 48 and 50 together.

The Deputies' questions relate The Gathering initiative. I presented proposals for "The Gathering 2013" at the Global Irish Economic Forum last October. Fáilte Ireland is the lead agency for the implementation of the initiative while Tourism Ireland Limited will have specific responsibility for promoting "The Gathering 2013" in overseas markets. The event is intended to be the biggest tourism initiative ever staged in Ireland and will consist of a year-long programme of festivals, events and other gatherings throughout the country, all of which will aim to attract overseas visitors.

The initiative is being overseen by a small, tightly-focused Project Board. This project board brings together representatives of the tourism bodies and my Department and includes other members with relevant expertise. The Chair of the Board is Ann Riordan (formerly Chair of Tourism Ireland and of Dublin Tourism, as well as previously working as Country Manager for Microsoft in Ireland) and the Board will oversee planning and delivery of the Gathering, supported by a small executive team drawn mainly from the tourism agencies alongside graduates under the JobBridge programme.

They will be supported by a Council of Champions, which will act as a forum to engage the wider community at home and abroad. Tim O'Connor, former Secretary-General to the President, will act as Chair of the Council of Champions and is also a member of the Project Board. The Project Board is currently finalising the Business Plan for "The Gathering 2013" which will cover the scope of the event and detail how interested parties can participate in it. It is planned that the event will be formally launched internationally over the course of the St. Patrick's Day festivities next month. It will be launched domestically in April at which point a mechanism will be put in place to allow communities and members of the public to contribute to The Gathering.

An additional €5m is being provided to Fáilte Ireland this year and is being ring-fenced for preparations for The Gathering. This additional allocation will more than reverse the original planned cut in Fáilte Ireland's current expenditure budget for 2012.