Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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371. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Fáilte Ireland has considered a flagship anchor attraction for Cork city comparable to Kilkenny Castle or the Cliffs of Moher; and his Department's plans to support regional tourism. [51173/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government provides that the Government will work with Fáilte Ireland to develop a balanced regional spread of tourism throughout the country, promoting and advancing the Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin. This will involve continued Government investment in the tourism offering to attract overseas and domestic tourists.

I am advised that Fáilte Ireland has established localised Destination Experience Development Plans (DEDPs) to activate these brands. The DEDPs are 5-year sustainable tourism development plans for a destination, which bring public and private sector organisations together to prioritise tourism development projects and maximise their chance for success.

The Cork City, Harbour and East Cork DEDP launched last November provides the strategic framework to prioritise tourism development projects that will attract more visitors to the region and encourage them to stay longer. Fáilte Ireland has assembled a group of stakeholders consisting of Local Authority representatives, industry representatives and community representatives to collectively oversee the implementation of this five-year DEDP.

As part of the Cork City, Harbour, and East Cork DEDP, Fáilte Ireland has identified a gap in Cork’s tourism offering due to an absence of a compelling, stand-out attraction capable of drawing significant visitor numbers and motivating visitors to prioritise Cork as a destination.

Fáilte Ireland, in partnership with Cork City Council, recently published a tender inviting suppliers to support the development of concepts for a potential new visitor attraction in Cork City.

The tender is aimed at suppliers with expertise in visitor attraction planning, feasibility analysis, business modelling, and site appraisal. The appointed consultant(s) will develop outline plans and feasibility studies for three shortlisted concepts which have been selected for further development and appraisal:

• Rejuvenated and Reimagined English Market.
• National Science Museum.
• Indoor Wellness and Waterpark Destination.