Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1116. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on his efforts to work with EU partners to introduce new tourism specific funding supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20393/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Ireland engages on an ongoing basis with fellow EU Member States and the European Commission regarding a wide range of tourism matters.

As the Deputy may be aware, there is a wide range of EU funding programmes relevant to the tourism ecosystem. Various tourism enterprises, businesses, destinations or local authorities can, if they wish, submit applications for funding (when calls for funding issue) under various EU funding programmes.

By way of a current example, Fáilte Ireland is tasked with the administration of €68 million, secured by Government, for a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme 2023-2026 under the EU Just Transition Fund.

This scheme represents a significant investment in sustainable tourism development in the Irish Midlands.

The funding has two elements, with €38 million earmarked for the diversification of the regional economy through the sustainable development of tourism; and €30 million provided for the regeneration and repurposing of peatlands, through the development of a network of trails.

The aim for this investment is to create employment that sustains thriving communities, while also supporting critical natural habitats and flourishing biodiversity.

The Department continues to engage with Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the European Commission regarding state aid options for grant schemes and funding streams and will continue to explore all available funding avenues in respect of tourism, through its on-going participation in the EU Tourism Advisory Committee.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1117. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the allocations to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in each of the years 2016 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20394/25]

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1118. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the allocations within his Department in support of tourism in the years 2019 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20395/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1117 and 1118 together.

Details of the annual funding allocations provided to Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland by my Department, in its current configuration since September 2020, 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 their website.

The subheads of relevance to Tourism Ireland are A4, A5 for 2020-2025 and additionally A7 for 2023. The subheads of relevance to Fáilte Ireland are A3, A5, A6 for 2020-2025 and additionally A8 for 2023-2025. Further details are available in the Agency Statements for Fáilte Ireland included in the REV under Vote 33.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1119. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his proposals to support regional balance in the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20396/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to growing Ireland’s tourism industry and, through support for Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, we will continue to showcase Ireland as a high-quality and accessible destination for both national and international visitors.

The Government will work with Fáilte Ireland to develop a balanced regional spread of tourism throughout the country, promoting and advancing the four Regional Tourism Development Strategies, namely Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin. This will involve continued support for investment in the tourism offering to attract overseas and domestic tourists. The Regional Tourism Development Strategies are being activated across every region through a series of local area action plans, referred to as Destination and Experience Development Plans.

To continue to build the appeal of destinations across Ireland for both domestic and international visitors, Fáilte Ireland is continuing to support the continued development and delivery of exceptional visitor experiences and attractions across the country, with a range of projects set to be completed across the country in 2025.

The Programme for Government sets out the Government's ambitious plans to strengthen and enhance the tourism sector. The Tourism Policy Framework 2025 – 2030 was published by the previous Government last November. I understand that my colleague, Minister Peter Burke, to whom ministerial responsibility for tourism will soon be transferring by Government Order, has asked officials to consider how commitments in the Programme for Government align with the Policy Framework and to prioritise the finalisation of a new Tourism Policy which reflects the Programme for Government and other Government priorities.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1120. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the tourism related policy and strategy documents his Department are currently implementing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20397/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government (PFG) comprehensively sets out the Government's ambitious plans to strengthen and enhance the tourism sector.

The Tourism Policy Framework 2025 – 2030 was published by the previous Government last November. I understand that my colleague, Deputy Peter Burke, to whom ministerial responsibility for tourism is transferring, has asked officials to consider how commitments in the new PFG align with the Policy Framework and to prioritise the finalisation of a new Tourism Policy which reflects the PFG and other Government priorities.

Furthermore, I understand that Minister Burke will soon be launching a new Business Events Strategy. This strategy was developed by the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with Departmental tourism officials. The overarching aim of the strategy is to deliver on the full value of business events, achieving benefits for Ireland by ensuring positive impacts on more than 20,000 small and medium-size enterprises, local communities and sectoral collectives.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1121. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on their efforts to develop the Irish sea way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The 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.

The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1122. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on their efforts to create a coastal tourist trail, linking the Wild Atlantic Way, the Causeway Costal Route, and the area along the eastern and southern coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20399/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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.

The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1123. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on their efforts to support Údarás na Gaeltachta and the development of Gaeltacht tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20403/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta is undertaking a broad range of initiatives to develop Gaeltacht tourism. An tÚdarás is focusing on four main strategic objectives to develop Gaeltacht tourism.

Firstly, to support private and community-based enterprises in developing high-end slow tourism experiences that encourage longer stays and higher spending while preserving authentic cultural and linguistic heritage. For example an tÚdarás is a partner in a European project exploring dark sky tourism potential.

Secondly, I undertand that an tÚdarás is working with communities to develop engaging all-weather visitor attractions with financial support through strategic partnerships with Fáilte Ireland and other agencies.

Údarás na Gaeltachta and Failte Ireland have a Memorandum of Understanding detailing their commitment to making the Gaeltacht experience appealing, accessible and relevant to visitors. At the moment we have community projects in development or recently opened in Mayo, Cork and Galway with a pipeline of other projects under discussion.

Thirdly, through an tÚdarás' employment scheme and community co-operatives the organistion is supporting the creation of integrated outdoor recreation infrastructure that serves both the local community and tourists while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Through its innovative tourism development scheme an tÚdarás is providing support to 16 community tourism attractions and initiatives to employ Irish speaking tourism officers to develop products, saleable experiences, visitor attractions and amenities throughout the Gaeltacht. As well as financial support, the officers will be part of a learning network where they will gain new knowledge and develop networks in the tourism industry.

Finally, an tÚdarás has informed me that the organistion is working with private and community enterprises, to position the Gaeltacht regions as a premium destination offering immersive Irish language and cultural experiences.

The medium term plan outlines numerous specific actions to achieve these objectives, including: developing fee-paying attractions on islands and in communities; creating language-immersion experiences like "Seo an áit" where visitors can be guaranteed interactions in Irish; establishing a Gaeltacht Destination Experience Development Plan with Fáilte Ireland; supporting Dark Skies tourism initiatives; developing language holidays that combine non-academic Irish language learning with diverse experiences; and supporting community-led visitor attractions through funding programs, volunteer initiatives, and tourism officer recruitment.