Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up-to-date position in relation to The Gathering initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3665/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Whilst the tourism sector continues to emerge from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is also important that we plan for further recovery and building for the future. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to seek to emulate the success of the Gathering in 2013 which supported recovery in the tourism sector after the last major economic crisis.

In Budget 2023, I secured an additional €5 million allocation for the tourism agencies to continue the development of a new tourism initiative, The Invitation project, to support recovery in the sector by promoting and building on the warmth of our welcome, the beauty of our landscape and the richness of our culture.

The tourism agencies have recently completed a comprehensive research programme with trade, industry and consumers to assess the concept behind this initiative, its consumer appeal, and the ideal timing for delivery. The outcome of this research will also be a critical factor in determining how best to deliver on this initiative.