Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide funding to celebrate a significant event in Portmagee, County Kerry, the 100th Anniversary of the Spirit of St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh and the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50517/26]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not directly fund tourism festivals, such funding is administered by Fáilte Ireland, our national tourism development agency.

Fáilte Ireland funds tourism festivals under two separate schemes. The Strategic Tourism Festival Investment Scheme which opened in 2025, awarded funding to successful applicants for the period 2026 to 2028.

Separately, in 2026, Fáilte Ireland has made €623,250 in funding available to 31 local authorities under the 2026 Regional Festivals Fund, which will support approximately 250 festivals across the country. The 2026 Regional Festivals Fund allocation represents an increase on 2025 levels, ensuring that every local authority now receives a minimum of €10,000 to support local festival activity. In addition, a further €310,000 in funding is available to local authorities in 2026 specifically to support food festivals, and strengthen Ireland’s evolving culinary tourism offering.

It is important to note that festivals may access funding under programmes implemented by other government Departments, such as the LEADER programme or the Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Funding Scheme implemented by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

I understand that the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has also previously made funding available to local authorities for the development of community-led commemorative programming. Through this allocation local communities have been supported as they identify and decide how to mark significant historical local events and personalities.

As such, given the funding provided to local authorities by both Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, groups wishing to seek funding support for local festivals or events such as the one mentioned, should contact their local authority in the first instance.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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292. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding allocated to tourism development projects in County Kerry for each of the past five years and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50519/26]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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County Kerry has benefited from a substantial range of Fáilte Ireland investment and programme supports across capital development, outdoor activity infrastructure, destination development, festivals, digital capability, marketing and strategic partnerships over the period referenced. This funding is closely aligned with the Wild Atlantic Way Regional Tourism Development Strategy and Kerry’s Destination Experience Development Plans, with an emphasis on sustainable growth, visitor dispersion, extension of the tourism season and increased local economic impact.

Significant investment in tourism development projects is also delivered through several Government programmes and international funding mechanisms, such as LEADER. In addition to funding provided by individual local authorities, wider regional and central Government schemes also make an important contribution to capital investment and tourism regeneration regionally, for example through the RRDF.

Key tourism development projects supported by Fáilte Ireland in County Kerry since 2021 include: