Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given to providing funding for the creation of activity tourism hubs in which persons and groups in rural Ireland offering such activities could come together and provide a joint offer to tourists within an area. [52143/18]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be pleased to note that investment in activity-based tourism and tourist attractions has been prioritised under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 in order to provide the type and quality of experience that visitors are seeking. Funding in the order of €110 million has been allocated to Fáilte Ireland for capital investment in tourism between 2018 and 2021 and it is intended that this level of funding will be maintained over the lifetime of the National Development Plan. This investment will support and grow tourism across Ireland in line with the further development and promotion of the regional tourism brand experiences.

Although my Department provides funding to Fáilte Ireland for investment in tourism, it has no role in the design or administration of the agency’s funding programmes or in the development of specific types of amenities such as activity tourism hubs. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy with further detail in regard to investment in this sector and on the types of projects eligible for assistance under its capital grants schemes. Please contact my office if you do not hear within ten working days.