Funding is available under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999, the INTERREG II programme and Bord Fáilte's capital development fund towards the development and upgrading of tourist information offices.
The six regional tourism authorities, together with Shannon Development, operate a national network of tourist information offices. In 1996, the network comprised 94 offices, of which 38 were open all-year round and 56 were seasonal offices. In addition, at locations which do not justify a tourist information office, but where visitor demand or potential for tourism exists, tourist information points are established. These are either display and sales stands, tourist literature at visitor attractions or tourist-related businesses; or unmanned display boards with maps and tourist information at strategic points in towns or lay-bys.