Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2013
134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the oldest historical and heritage sites in this country are promoted internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19707/13]
View answer135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which his Department works in unison with the authorities in Northern Ireland in the promotion of heritage sites of Irish culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19708/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.
Promotion of Ireland as a tourist designation is primarily a matter for Tourism Ireland, which as all-island body, promotes Irish heritage abroad from both North and South. The unique qualities of Ireland’s national heritage play a significant role in enhancing and projecting Ireland’s image abroad, and in supporting economic renewal through cultural and heritage tourism and in downstream opportunities, such as in the retail, catering and accommodation sectors. For example, according to Fáilte Ireland, some 3.5 million overseas visitors engaged in cultural activities while in Ireland in 2011. Over 2.5 million tourists visited historic houses or castles, while 2 million visited our archaeological monuments, with over 3.7 million visitors to heritage sites where the Office of Public Works provides a guide service. My Department’s network of National Parks and Reserves are also a major part of Ireland’s tourism attractions.
I am committed to availing of every possible opportunity to project a positive global image for Ireland and to this aim I recently met with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to enhance co-operation between my Department and both Toursim bodies in promoting heritage and tourism. I am particularly conscious in the context of 2013 being the year of The Gathering initiative. My Department is actively engaged in a wide range of activities to this end, both in co-operation with bodies such as Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works, and in promoting its own initiatives such as our ‘Places to See’ and ‘Monuments to Visit’ websites, which provide directions to lesser known heritage sites and details of what the visitor can expect to find on arrival. In addition, my Department provides core funding for the Heritage Council, which supports a range of initiatives, including National Heritage Week.
This year, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, my Department is also initiating a pilot programme, the Historic Towns Initiative, in Youghal, Westport and Listowel with the Heritage Council and the local authorities in each town. This initiative is intended to promote heritage-led regeneration with the objective of harnessing cultural heritage to create desirable places to live, do business and visit. The redevelopment of Killarney House in Killarney National Park will also be a major tourism asset in years to come. These are but a sample of the overall range of initiatives and programmes my Department is helping to promote, support or guide as a means of preserving the quality and diversity of our heritage, which in turn, is basis for positively promoting that heritage abroad.
On the broader issue of North/South cooperation, my Department’s remit includes the Waterways Ireland and the Language Body (encompassing Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency) which have a key role in tourism and cultural development and my Department also works on a range of issues across the area of built heritage, arts and culture and the natural heritage with public agencies in Northern Ireland where opportunities for co-operation arise.
