Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he intends to allocate extra funding to attract additional major international events to come here in 2013, 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20873/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government states that event tourism will be prioritised to continue to bring major fairs and events to Ireland. There is a strong programme of events for 2012, including the return of the Volvo Ocean Race to Galway, the US Navy-Notre Dame American Football game, the Tall Ships Race and the Bavaria motor racing demonstration event. A number of large conferences are also being held in Ireland this year that will bring major economic benefits and are expected to draw around 30,000 high-spending delegates such as the European City of Science conferences and the International Eucharistic Congress. Fáilte Ireland will continue to work with partners and promoters to develop events for future years based on an assessment in each case of the costs and benefits involved and available funding.

The funding available for the purpose of attracting major international tourism events to Ireland forms part of Fáilte Ireland's overall annual operating budget and the level of funding available will be decided as part of the annual estimates process.