Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to report on the work of the all-island strategic tourism group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15953/25]

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

163. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on the work of the all-island strategic tourism group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15962/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government outlines the Government's commitment to the sustainable growth and development of Ireland’s tourism sector. By continuing to support the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, the Government seeks to strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a high-quality, accessible destination for both domestic and international visitors while also further integrating tourism offerings on an all-island basis.

The All-Island Strategic Tourism Group (AISTG), established in 2024, is co-chaired by senior officials in the Department and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and has representatives from the three tourism agencies on the Island - Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland. The group provides a strategic approach, aligned to policy priorities, to the development and further integration of tourism offerings on an all-island basis, including collaboration in relation to regional tourism brands.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount allocated to promoting cross-border tourism in the years 2023 to date; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15954/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tourism Ireland is the all-island tourism marketing company established under the Good Friday Agreement. It is accountable to the North South Ministerial Council and has responsibility for all-Ireland destination marketing, Tourism Brand Ireland, the overseas Tourism office network and the delivery of regional and product marketing and promotion activity on behalf of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.

Tourism Ireland is funded through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland.

Details of the annual funding allocations provided by my Department to Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland are available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) and supplementary estimates published by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and are available on that Department's website.

The subheads of relevance to Tourism Ireland are A4, A5 for 2023-2025 and additionally A7 for 2023. The subheads of relevance to Fáilte Ireland are A3, A5, A6 and A8 for 2023-2025. Further details are available in the Agency Statements for Fáilte Ireland included in the REV under Vote 33.

The Government's Shared Island initiative aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection and mutual understanding on the island and engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future.

Under the Shared Island Fund, which is allocated by Government to Departments and Agencies to take forward specific projects that deliver on Programme for Government priorities on Shared Island, an allocation of €7.6 million was granted in 2023 for an all-island tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative, in the North West region.