Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of funding for local tourism initiatives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8687/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy and it is not involved in the development of tourism in individual regions. The development of community and regional tourism is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.

In relation to national policy, the Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025", which was launched in March 2015, sets out key tourism policy objectives under a range of headings and highlights the central role of local authorities and communities in developing tourism in their areas. The subsequent Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018, which I launched in January of this year, contains several measures to be undertaken in the period to 2018 that will enhance the capacity of Local Authorities to support tourism and work has already commenced to progress these actions.