Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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296. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport regarding the proposal by industry to have an all-Ireland whiskey trail to increase rural tourism and associated employment opportunities. [29914/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I launched the Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy, published by the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA), in December 2016. This aims to treble to 1.9 million the number of visitors to visitor centres in distilleries by 2025.

As part of this vision, the Strategy provides for the development of an all island Whiskey trail and tourism infrastructure around distilleries. Food tourism is an important and growing segment of Ireland's overall tourism offering, identified in Food Wise 2025 as a significant growth opportunity for both the food and tourism sectors.

I understand that, following an initial approach to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sports, the IWA met with Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, in order to progress its whiskey trail proposal.

My Department works closely with the IWA on all aspects of the development of the sector and is monitoring progress on this important aspect of the on-going development of the Irish Whiskey industry.