Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is working with the Department of Justice and Equality to improve the visitor visa schemes for overseas tourists to Ireland; and if his Department received advice from Tourism Ireland on the way visa schemes could be improved to make it easier for overseas tourists to visit Ireland. [35369/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Ease of access is an important consideration for visitors from countries outside of Ireland's primary source markets of Great Britain, mainland Europe and North America.  My Department liaises with the Department of Justice and Equality and Tourism Ireland on advances in visa policy.

Under the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme, certain short stay visas issued by the Immigration authorities of the United Kingdom are recognised by Ireland for the purposes of onward travel to Ireland.  The Programme is regarded as being very successful in promoting tourism into Ireland and facilitating cross-border tourism.  The success of the programme helped lay the foundations for the development of the British Irish Visa Scheme and its roll-out to China and India.

Tourism Ireland has advised my Department of the importance of the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme, particularly in the context of tourism trade missions to countries covered by the Programme.  Therefore, I welcome the recent decision of the Minister for Justice and Equality to extend the Programme for a further five years.

My Department will continue to support the initiative of the  Department of Justice and Equality in the development of the British Irish Visa Scheme and other enhancements of the visa system to promote growth in tourist and business visits to Ireland.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department or a body under its aegis is taking action to promote designation of areas as dark sky preserves and Ireland as a destination for astro tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35372/16]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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My Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects. This is an operational matter for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.

Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy.  Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.