Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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307. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proposals, if any, there are to extend the remit of an agency (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28964/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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My department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. Tourism Northern Ireland, which is an agency under the aegis of the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, is responsible for the development of tourism in Northern Ireland.

Optimising collaboration between the three tourism agencies is essential in enhancing opportunities that will support the sustainable growth of the tourism sector across the island of Ireland. Through Tourism Ireland, there has been a hugely successful approach to promoting the five experience brands on the island, namely Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, Dublin and Embrace a Giant Spirit.

Under the Shared Ireland Programme, the tourism agencies are working closely together on a new all-island tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative, connecting the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route and in the North West region. This project enables the tourism agencies to bring together these two internationally renowned tourism assets and promote the region in a more joined up way and showcase the positive opportunities that the brand collaboration project will deliver for the region.