Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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400. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work his Department has carried out to increase cross-Border tourism; if work is underway to market the Newry, Mourne, Gullion, Cooley and Dundalk areas as a tourism destination within Ireland’s Ancient East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47592/25]

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 plays an essential role in this regard.

Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural, and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. As a state agency that is part of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Fáilte Ireland’s remit is within Ireland.

In addition, Fáilte Ireland is currently working closely with Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland and local authorities on the delivery of a variety of tourism projects under the Shared Island Initiative. 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 increasing connectivity between tourism assets, complemented by delivery of a Destination Experience Strategy to promote the region. The investment 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 Shared Island Fund is also resourcing marketing campaigns for each shared destination, including an industry development programme, which will be developed and delivered over 2025-2030, to maximise the economic impact for each region.

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.