Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I refer the Deputy to his Parliamentary Question No. 69 of May 18 last when the matter of the PEACE PLUS 2021-2027 programme was discussed.

The PEACE PLUS programme presents an excellent opportunity to deliver North-South co-operation projects in the border counties and tourism is one of the investment areas identified under the programme.

Since 2019, my officials have been engaging with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and with the three tourism agencies on the island – Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland - to identify possible tourism initiatives or pipeline projects that may qualify for PEACE PLUS funding.

Department officials, both North and South, continue to engage with the three tourism agencies and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in advance of Calls for Applications for cross-border tourism related projects, after which a joint tourism proposal will be submitted to the SEUPB for consideration for programme funding.

One of the strategic goals of my Department, as outlined in the Department's Statement of Strategy, is to promote North-South co-operation, within the context of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative, particularly in the context of the work of Tourism Ireland.

In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund, with a planned €500 million to be made available out to 2025, providing multiannual capital funding for investment in collaborative North/South projects supporting the commitments and objectives of the Good Friday Agreement. This fund is made available under the Shared Island initiative which aims to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island.

My Department has had extensive engagement with the Department of the Taoiseach regarding shared island funding, with the result that €7.6 million was allocated for a new all-island tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative, connecting the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way in the north west. This project will be developed and implemented over the next three years and will build on the international reputations of these two magnificent tourist routes. A Project Team was established in January this year and consists of representatives from my Department and the three tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.

My Department will continue to support increased cooperation between the tourism agencies and continue to explore all available funding avenues in respect of tourism to better promote the entire island and give us a better overall tourism product.