Written answers
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Tourism Promotion
Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the further initiatives being considered or implemented to drive tourism in the midlands region, building on the success of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35301/25]
Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Government has continued to provide capital funding for tourism product development to ensure that Fáilte Ireland can support the delivery of enhanced amenities through Fáilte Ireland’s four Regional Tourism Development Strategies which includes Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Fáilte Ireland’s Regional Tourism Development Strategies 2023 – 2027 are a roadmap for the tourism industry and all stakeholders involved in tourism. The Development Strategies set out a strategic approach to unlocking the commercial potential in each region. It ensures focus on tourism development is sustainable and regenerative and that the benefits accrue to local communities and to nature.
To activate these strategies, Fáilte Ireland has established localised five-year Destination Experience Development Plans (DEDPs). These local development plans are highly collaborative in nature, involving all local stakeholders and this is reflected in the agreed action plans where ownership is assigned among the various parties.
Within Ireland's Hidden Heartlands there are two DEDPs which cover the midlands region. North Roscommon, Leitrim, and Cavan are included in the Upper Shannon, Shannon-Erne, and Border DEDP (Destination Experience Development Plan) which was launched in 2024. This plan involves cooperation between Cavan, Leitrim, and Roscommon County Councils, Waterways Ireland, local development companies, tourism businesses, and communities. It aims to leverage key assets like the River Shannon to boost tourism. This is a five-year tourism destination plan for Cavan, Leitrim and the area of Roscommon north of, and including Roscommon Town, as part of the development of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands region. It aims to create a sustainable tourism destination by extending the tourism season and spreading business across the region.
Some examples of capital projects in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands are:
- Shannon Pot and Cavan Burren Park
- The National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park
- The Beara Breifne Way
- Acres Lake water sports activity facilities
Under the EU Just Transition Fund, Fáilte Ireland has been tasked with the administration of €68 million for a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme 2023-2026. Through this scheme, Fáilte Ireland is investing in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities.
There are two main elements to the overall scheme:
- €38m towards the diversification of the regional economy through the sustainable development of tourism.
- €30m towards the regeneration and repurposing of peatlands through the development of a network of trails.
- Scheme A: Trail Network Development Scheme (delivered primarily through Bord na Mona)
- Scheme B: Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for SMEs
- Scheme C & D: Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Local Authorities and certain State Agencies
- Scheme E: Appointment of County Tourism Activators to Local Authorities
- Scheme F: Enterprise Supports Scheme
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