I welcome the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and her officials to our meeting. We will proceed with our consideration of the Bill. I ask the Minister to make her opening statement.
National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage
Gabhaim buíochas le baill an choiste as an gcuireadh a bheith ina dteannta. I thank the committee members for the invitation to join them. The main purpose of this Bill is to provide the statutory basis to allow the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to increase the aggregate level of funding that may be allocated to Fáilte Ireland out of capital moneys provided by the Oireachtas for tourism product development. The limit on capital funding will shortly be reached and legislation is required to increase that limit. This Bill amends section 24(2) of the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, to increase the limit on capital funding from €300 million to €500 million, and sanction has been granted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This limit was increased on two previous occasions, 2011 and 2016, in similar Acts.
Tourism is Ireland's most important indigenous and labour-intensive sector, generating substantial export earnings and tax revenues. It is woven into the fabric of Irish cultural and social life and is of critical importance to regional economies in particular. As potential visitors start to think about their next holiday, international destinations are vying for attention in an ultra-competitive market. It is vitally important therefore, that we keep Ireland top of mind for potential visitors and that they know that brilliant visitor experiences, attractions and activities are available to them. That is as important for domestic visitors. Ireland's tourism sector provides a wealth of opportunities for great tourism offerings, and Fáilte Ireland uses this capital funding to support the development and cultivation of those visitor experiences. This year alone, projects in the Céide Fields in Mayo, the Blasket Islands in Kerry, Knowth in Meath, Beyond the Trees in Avondale, and the National Famine Museum in Strokestown have opened.
From a strategic perspective, Fáilte Ireland has four main funding channels for its capital investment in tourism product development to support the development and enhancement of tourism attractions and experiences. These include large grant schemes provided under the Platforms for Growth approach; small grant schemes, which are targeted and usually aligned with tourism experience brands; strategic partnerships and other collaborations; and direct investment in experience brand infrastructure. Fáilte Ireland has used Platforms for Growth to drive development in specific areas. For example, using funding provided by Government, Fáilte Ireland has provided €19 million to 20 locations throughout the country for water-based activities, which are a key visitor attraction.
Is ceannscríbe é turasóireachta d'ardchaighdeán a chur ar fáil in Éirinn ó cheann ceann na bliana mar gheall air seo go léir. Gabhaim buíochas leis na baill as a gcuid ama agus as an mBille a bhreithniú, rud a bhfuil mé ag súil go mór leis.
SECTION 1
Question proposed: "That section 1 stand part of the Bill."
There are no amendments to this section but I invite colleagues to make comments.
This is quite a technical Bill and I am not in opposition to it at all. When these types of Bill come before us, I always wonder if we are increasing the level by enough. Otherwise, we could be back here in five or ten years. Is a cautious approach being taken by moving from €500 million to €750 million? That is just a query because sometimes we pick a figure out of the sky and hope that will tide us over for a number of months or years.
That is something we should look at. The increase to €500 million will satisfy demand for the next few years. Perhaps we should be looking at a different way of doing this. It is something we will examine.
I do not need to explain to the Minister the importance of tourism to Ireland. I think there are 250,000 or 260,000 people working in the industry, which is phenomenal. It is growing through different sorts of music and that type of thing we are doing. It is important that Fáilte Ireland be funded properly. Bigger schemes are coming on. The industry suffered a lot during the pandemic; they were hit badly. From bus tours to theatres, everything was closed. It is welcome and I am sure it is welcome in tourism circles as well. I hope the projects they pick will be successful.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 2 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment.
I thank the Minister and her officials for their swift participation in today's meeting and my colleagues in the Opposition for their swift participation as well.