Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has had discussions with the tourism and sporting sectors with a view to availing of maximum opportunities arising from major sporting events here and in adjoining jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45526/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which efforts can be made and or increased to attract major sporting events to this country over the next five years keeping in mind the economic benefits accruing therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45527/12]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment that event tourism will be prioritised in order to continue to bring major events to Ireland. The hosting of major sports events can provide a great showcase for Ireland, drive international visitor numbers and the media coverage of sports tourism events helps to put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination. 

Fáilte Ireland continues to support the sports tourism sector and in 2012 the Volvo Ocean Race returned to Ireland with its finale in Galway, Dún Laoghaire hosted the ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship, the Tall Ships and the Bavaria Motor Racing Exhibition event took place in Dublin as well as the Navy-Notre Dame American Football game in the Aviva Stadium.

I am supportive of the efforts of the State Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support.

Tourism Ireland also rolled out a busy programme of promotional activity to target a wide range of potential visitors in the run-up to and during the Olympic Games.  On the sporting side, athletes from over thirty countries travelled to Ireland for training or participation in Olympic/Paralympic related events before the London Games.