Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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410. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to develop additional tourism infrastructure in Mullingar to maximise the economic and cultural potential of its connection to the royal canal greenway and old rail trail greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38868/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Westmeath is included in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023 – 2027. The plan sets out a strategic approach by Fáilte Ireland to unlock the commercial potential of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and will ensure a focus on tourism development that is sustainable, regenerative and that benefits accrue to local communities.

Mullingar is  being developed under the Mid-Shannon and Midlands Destination Experience Development Plan [DEDP], which is due to be launched in Q2 2026. In the interim a DEDP Steering Group has identified priority actions to be progressed based on County Tourism Plans such as supporting initiatives to further connect greenways with towns, villages and attractions where possible; such as linkages to the Hill of Uisneach and Belvedere House in Westmeath, Mullingar to Kilbeggan, and Mullingar to North Westmeath.

In May, I announced the recipients of funding under Fáilte Ireland’s new “Home of Halloween” Pilot Destination Development Scheme. A total of €1.5 million will be invested over the next three years (2025–2028) which aims to establish Ireland as the authentic global home of Halloween.  Each successful destination, which included a successful joint application from Longford and Westmeath County Councils, will receive up to €100,000 annually to develop Halloween-themed festivals that celebrate Ireland’s heritage and attract visitors during the off-peak season. I understand that Mullingar/the Hill of Uisneach will be one of the hubs used during the festival.

Fáilte Ireland works across the Midlands region with Private and Community SMEs as part of its EU Just Transition ambitions for the Midlands. In 2025, 50 projects were announced by Fáilte Ireland worth over € 9.4 million in funding under Fáilte Ireland’s Private and Community SME scheme, and the Local Authority and State Agency scheme. Evaluations of remaining applications are now reaching its final stages with further funding awards to be announced on a rolling basis over the coming weeks. This is on top of the over €32 million in investment grants announced for regenerative tourism projects in the Midlands last summer.

For example; Belvedere House, Gardens and Park, which is situated just outside Mullingar Town, secured €187,500 under the EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, marking a significant step towards its long-term development and sustainability. The funding will be used to create a master plan aimed at maximising the site’s tourism potential while ensuring the conservation of its built and natural heritage. The master plan will establish a strategic vision for Belvedere, identifying projects that can be developed in the short, medium, and long term. The goal is to position the estate as a major visitor attraction of scale, with an emphasis on heritage protection and economic viability.

As the Deputy would be aware, Greenways are under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport. However, Fáilte Ireland and its partner stakeholders have been working to support businesses to optimise the tourism potential of Greenways to improve the visitor experience and commercial performance in which they are located. Greenways are attracting walking, biking enthusiasts, local domestic, and casual domestic / international visitors to the area following investment by this Government in Greenways in Westmeath. The Kilbeggan to Mullingar Greenway, in particular, is an exciting new project for the area. I understand that Westmeath County Council is currently inviting all interested parties to participate in a public consultation on the emerging preferred route corridor. A high-quality greenway like this will open up fantastic opportunities for communities and ensures that Westmeath remains at the heart of Ireland’s growing greenway network.