Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1107. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he anticipates bodies under the aegis of his Department to be affected by Brexit with particular reference to inward investments and future expansion affecting the tourism and transport sectors; the extent to which he continues to liaise with European institutions in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24599/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The main impact of Brexit on the tourism and transport sectors is expected to be potential disruption to connectivity to our markets rather than on inward investment to these sectors. Ireland’s maritime and aviation sectors are critical to trade and tourism and it is essential that any impacts on these sectors are minimised.

In relation to transport, the National Development Plan outlines a range of projects for investment in our roads network and sets out ambitious investment programmes in our main ports and airports that will enhance capacity and facilitate smoother connectivity to international markets.

In relation to tourism, Tourism Ireland has a programme of marketing activity in place for 2018 to keep Ireland front of mind for British visitors. That marketing effort will continue throughout the year. In addition, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland launched an initiative specially designed to boost tourist numbers from Britain to the Wild Atlantic Way. A €1.35 million marketing campaign in Britain will be complemented by a Fáilte Ireland €500,000 programme to support businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way to position themselves to benefit from the campaign, as well as to boost its own marketing campaigns in Northern Ireland.

Trips to Ireland for the first four months of 2018 were up 7.3 % compared to the corresponding period of 2017, including an increase of 1.1% from residents of Great Britain.

In Budget 2018, with Brexit in mind, €2m in capital funding was specifically secured for Tourism Ireland to invest in strengthening its digital infrastructure, deepening its understanding of the all-important overseas consumer and developing new creative content, for roll out from 2019.

Brexit and its potential implications for Ireland continue to be managed on a whole-of-government basis. This includes the transport and tourism sectors, and my Department is continuing to work to address the potential impacts of Brexit on these sectors, including in relation to bodies under the aegis of the Department.