Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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852. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects air passenger traffic to and from this jurisdiction to expand in the coming years with particular reference to the need to stimulate the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8307/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Tourism Ireland has set an overall target of growing visitor numbers by a further 4% in 2014 and by 13% more than the 2013 figure by 2016. With the vast majority of these visitors arriving by air, the importance of convenient, direct air access is critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism to Ireland. Tourism Ireland works with the Irish airports to fill strategic gaps and attractive incentive and marketing programmes are available to help support new services.

 Air access capacity to Ireland increased by 7% in 2013 compared to 2012, and this positive trend is set to continue this year. The €0 rating for the airline Travel Tax announced in Budget 2014 will be introduced from April 2014. This was designed to generate additional air capacity to Ireland and has already reaped dividends in the shape of numerous new route announcements by both Irish and foreign airlines for the 2014 season.