Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagement she has had with the stakeholders on promoting the Gearagh, County Cork for tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2592/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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At the outset, I should clarify that regional tourism promotion is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, in collaboration with Local Authorities and other tourism stakeholders.

Fáilte Ireland continues to work closely with stakeholders in the Lee Valley area to develop and promote the area as a tourism destination.  I know that the Gearagh (a submerged glacial woodland and statutory nature reserve located in the Upper Lee Valley) is a significant tourism asset to the Lee Valley.

In 2021, Fáilte Ireland launched the Discover West Cork Digital Brochure to promote areas from Kinsale to Ardgroom.  The brochure was developed by the West Cork Tourism Network (a representative group including Fáilte Ireland, Cork County Council, Pure Cork and tourism businesses) and features tourism attractions, outdoor activities as well as hospitality businesses.  It is designed to help tourism businesses highlight the standout experiences in West Cork to potential visitors to the area, while encouraging visitors to see more of the area and increase visitor dwell-time. 

The digital brochure is being promoted online and the content was used last summer as part of Fáilte Ireland’s Keep Discovering domestic marketing campaign.  The Lee Valley is well represented within the digital brochure with a selection of walking trails from that area featured, as well as the Múscraí Gaeltacht.

The Gearagh and wider Lee Valley area will also benefit from Fáilte Ireland's development of a Destination Experience Development Plan for the Three Peninsulas in West Cork.  It is expected that development of the Three Peninsulas' tourism offering will also have a positive impact on the Gougane and wider Lee Valley area.  Accordingly, Fáilte Ireland has included representation from the Gougane/Lee Valley area on the Plan's implementation group, to ensure that lessons learned from the Plan can be be applied where appropriate to the Lee Valley area.  

Investment in the wider West Cork tourism offering will also lead to increased visitor footfall to the region.  Fáilte Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way Team is involved in a tourism development plan for the Múscraí area, working with Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí, gteic (Údarás Na Gaeltachta), Cork County Council and local businesses.  The Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscraí trail in West Cork has also received funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development to boost outdoor recreation and recreation tourism and I also understand there are developmental plans for a museum in Ballingeary. 

Fáilte Ireland is continuing to work with tourism attractions, activity providers and other tourism businesses in the Lee Valley area to develop their visitor experiences.