Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she continues to take to ensure that tourism is given every opportunity to develop and grow in the future notwithstanding the future challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24345/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am currently progressing the development of a new national tourism policy framework to mainstream sustainability across the entire sector in the period to 2030. While it will aim to grow the tourism sector, the objective will be to do so in a manner consistent with our broader sustainability targets. While initial consultations with key stakeholders were completed in 2023, earlier this year I launched an online survey seeking the views of the public to help finalise the Framework. The online consultation closed on Friday 26 April and 161 responses were received. My Department recently completed an analysis of all these submissions and matters raised will be fully considered when finalising the Policy Framework. In this regard, I hope to publish the Policy Framework itself shortly.

There will be a continued capital investment programme including progressing EU Just Transition Funding to deliver a transformative Regenerative Tourism Scheme for the Midlands. This will be delivered by Fáilte Ireland and marks the beginning of the regenerative tourism development journey in Ireland, as we work towards a low carbon economy.

Other initiatives being driven by my Department include an all-island tourism brand collaboration project in the North West supported by a Shared Island funding allocation of €7.6 million out to 2025. The vision of the project is to connect the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way in such a way that the visitor is motivated to stay longer and spend more thereby bringing greater economic benefit to the region.

Tourism Ireland’s publicity activity in 2024 will include the expansion of the ‘Fill your heart with Ireland’ campaign with enhanced Wild Atlantic Way content in support of that incredibly successful experience brand's 10th anniversary and a continued focus on regional and seasonal messaging to increase tourism revenue across the regions and throughout the seasons.

At the heart of Fáilte Ireland’s work to develop the spatial spread of tourism are four regional experience brands, namely the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East and Dublin. Fáilte Ireland has developed a Regional Tourism Development Strategy for each brand in partnership with local authorities, state agencies, communities and industry partners.