Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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679. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that will be implemented to increase tourism business through direct investment or the introduction of specific incentives to a sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45085/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, Failte Ireland launched the “Upper Shannon, Shannon-Erne, and Border Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP)” which aims to create and develop a sustainable tourism destination across this part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, by extending the tourism season and spreading business across all parts of the region over the next five years. It will also deliver on the opportunities identified in the “Shannon Tourism Masterplan” and implement recommendations included in the feasibility study for the Sustainable Development and Greening of the Cruise Hire Sector. The DEDP ultimately provides a framework for an integrated, collaborative approach to regenerative tourism across the region in a manner that seeks to deliver net positive benefits for nature and the community

The “Shannon Tourism Masterplan” for the Shannon River, including the Shannon-Erne Waterway, is a collaborative project led by Waterways Ireland with Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities. The Masterplan assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this key tourism asset in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and brings forward proposals on how to grow a sustainable international tourism destination in the region. One of the key actions contained in the Shannon Masterplan was a Feasibility Study on the Future Development and Greening of the Cruise Hire Sector to support the sector to transition towards more sustainable practices and enhance the visitor experiences along the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway. Fáilte Ireland unveiled this roadmap for sustainable development of Cruise-Hire Sector in October 2024, with the aim to support the sector to transition towards more sustainable practices and enhance the visitor experiences along the Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway up to 2033.

Projects being progressed as part of the Shannon Masterplan include the development of signature interpretation points along the Shannon-Erne Waterway. The Shannon Discovery Points project is well underway with work now progressing on Stage Two, which involves the manufacture, supply, and installation of the interpretation hardware.

Finally, Fáilte Ireland are working with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, through collaboration on joint projects such as the “Shannon Navigation and Shannon-Erne Waterway Tourism Information Provision Audit”, and an ongoing Regenerative Tourism Development Programme through the auspices of the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, through which the Shannon-Erne Waterway runs.