Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2004
21 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the implications for tourism promotion of the decision to invest moneys from the International Fund for Ireland in the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19689/04]
View answer25 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the €4 million in funding provided from the International Fund for Ireland for new tourism facilities and community centres will have an impact on tourism promotion in Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19737/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 25 together.
The International Fund for Ireland is an independent international organisation established by the British and Irish Governments in 1986 and administered by a joint secretariat, the Irish element of which is provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs. My Department, with Fáilte Ireland, contributes to the fund's tourism programme.
On 18 June 2004, the International Fund for Ireland announced that the board had approved funding of almost €4 million to support approximately 20 community based reconciliation and job creation projects throughout the southern Border counties. While these projects will, in the main, be funded under the regeneration of deprived areas programme and the economic development programme, some of them have a significant tourism dimension and will thus play a vital role in attracting an increased number of visitors to the Border area. The fund's tourism programme, with its focus on tourism projects that demonstrate a capacity to create employment and encourage cross-Border and cross-community activities which are economically and environmentally sustainable, has made an important contribution to the tourism infrastructure of the Northern Ireland counties and the southern Border counties, and to tourism marketing and human resource development initiatives in the region.
