Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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736. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress of the Shared Island Tourism Destination initiatives including Carlingford Lough, Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark and Sliabh Beagh, detailing capital works funded, delivery timelines and partnerships with Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47406/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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One of this Government’s key ambitions is to enhance cross-border cooperation and tourism will play an essential role in this regard.

Funding of up to €23 million from the Shared Island Fund has been allocated for the next phase of the Shared Island Tourism Programme. Over the next five years, the Shared Destinations projects will see the development of three key projects across the border region – Carlingford Lough, Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Geopark and Sliabh Beagh.

The Carlingford Lough Project includes a network of trailheads, trails and water access points across the region and will harness the benefits of the Narrow Water Bridge as a lynchpin for sustainable tourism and recreation activity around the whole Carlingford Lough area.

The Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark investment will deliver a trail network to join existing routes North and South of the border and further link the regional tourism offering at Cuilcagh and the wider cross-border UNESCO Global Geopark. The project will provide connectivity between the Marble Arch Caves, Cuilcagh Boardwalk and the Cavan Burren Park and include interpretation, wayfinding and infrastructure, including a community-based interpretative centre at Glangevlin village.

The Sliabh Beagh project includes extensive connected walking, cycling, equestrian cross-border trails around Sliabh Beagh Mountain with the inclusion of trailheads and gateways. The trail development will also include interpretation, wayfinding and other facility development.

Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland continue to work with local authorities in both jurisdictions, and in consultation with relevant Departments and Agencies, North and South, to ensure the tourism potential of these cross-border sites is fully realised including the overseas marketing of the locations by Tourism Ireland.

Furthermore, the tourism agencies believe there is an opportunity for greater synergy across the northern half of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East with experiences in Northern Ireland. For the visitor, this will offer a more seamless experience and encourage them to stay longer thus supporting our regional dispersal ambitions and economic growth targets.

The overall Shared Destinations project is currently at the initiation phase and further consultation with the relevant stakeholders will take place in the coming weeks.