Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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627. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that more than 180,000 persons work directly in the tourism industry and in view of the decline in tourism, especially from overseas, if he will expand the marketing of Ireland abroad, especially in emerging countries facing a surge in outward tourists due to economic development since the turn of the century; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36987/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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CSO figures show that, while visitor numbers to Ireland fell significantly in 2009 and 2010, there has been a strong recovery in the performance of the tourism sector from 2011 onwards. In 2011, the total number of overseas visits to Ireland was 6.505 million, rising slightly to 6.517 million in 2012, followed by a substantial rise to 6.986 million in 2013, up 7.2% on 2012.  The positive trend has continued into 2014, with trips to Ireland for the first eight months of this year up by 9.4 % compared to the corresponding period in 2013. There were 5,200,700 overseas visits to Ireland during the eight-month period.

My Department's role in relation to tourism is concerned primarily with national policy. Responsibility for the marketing the island of Ireland as a visitor destination in overseas markets is a day-to-day matter for Tourism Ireland, a cross-border body established under the Good Friday Agreement.  The agency is active in a range of developing markets, and I am forwarding the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for further information.  Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.

I am currently completing a review of tourism policy, which is intended to set out the overall direction for tourism up to 2025.  A draft of the new Tourism Policy Statement was published by my predecessor in July.  I expect to publish the finalised Tourism Policy Statement in the coming weeks.