Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way the commitment in the programme for Government regarding the development of cultural tourism opportunities will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12479/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the institutions which it funds continue to work closely with the tourism agencies, at home and abroad, to promote cultural tourism. In that context, there are a number of standout initiatives, and a whole host of ongoing events of note, especially Culture Night. In 2011, it took place on September 23rd in a record 30 towns and cities throughout the island of Ireland, showcasing the best of our artistic and cultural heritage and facilities. It is estimated that upwards of 200,000 participated in the event in 2011, with over 150 cultural venues in Dublin alone welcoming visitors until late in the evening.

Arising from discussions at the Dublin Castle Global Irish Economic Forum on the most appropriate way to increase the impact and popularity of Culture Night for 2012 and beyond, it is proposed to designate St Patrick's Day as the International Day of Irish Culture, thereby building on solid foundations already in place. Discussions are ongoing with all relevant stakeholders as to the exact format and scope of such an event, which will depend also on the amount of funding that is available. I also propose to deepen the engagement with Music Day, scheduled this year for 21st June, and create a further cultural pivot point at a key moment during the year. In that way, there will be three main national cultural focus points throughout the year - St Patrick's Day in Spring, Music Day at Midsummer, and Culture Night in the Autumn.

The National Cultural Institutions and other cultural venues supported by my Department play a very significant role in Ireland's cultural tourism product. In 2011, there were over 3.6 million visitors to such institutions and venues. At the moment, they and the Arts Council are being activated to support both The Gathering and our upcoming EU Presidency Cultural programme.