Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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213. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures her Department will put in place to support Waterford Airport to encourage tourism to the south east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2807/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, which supports Ireland’s regional airports, is administered by the Department of Transport and all operational matters in respect of the airport are a matter for my colleague Minister Ryan.

Tourism Ireland promotes regional air and sea access to Ireland in overseas tourism markets through initiatives like the Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund. This initiative seeks to encourage new access and maximise the potential of existing services to the regions, with matched funding from airlines, sea carriers, airports, ports and regional tourism stakeholders including Local Authorities. As Waterford Airport does not currently operate scheduled flights, Tourism Ireland is not in a position to leverage this funding in respect of access to the airport. Should scheduled flights resume at the airport, Tourism Ireland may again be in a position to support access routes through the fund.

In relation to tourism in Waterford in general, Fáilte Ireland continues to market Waterford extensively through the Ireland’s Ancient East Regional Experience Brand.  In addition, Waterford continues to feature heavily in Fáilte Ireland’s Keep Discovering Campaign in press advertisements, TV and radio.

I was pleased to secure a record level of funding for tourism in Budget 2022, including a €30 million increase to the Tourism Marketing Fund to support the delivery of a marketing strategy to help restore inbound tourism to Ireland.  This will allow Tourism Ireland to roll out over €80 million worth of marketing campaigns, in which Waterford will feature strongly, in key international markets.