Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2019
546. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy priorities for the development of tourism based on outdoor recreation and sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7927/19]
View answerI published the Tourism Action Plan 2019-2021 in December 2018. The Action Plan commits to developing and enhancing tourism experiences within the framework of Project Ireland 2040. In this regard, the Deputy will be pleased to note that investment in activity-based tourism and tourist attractions has been prioritised under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 in order to provide the type and quality of experience that visitors are seeking.
With specific regard to Greenways, last July Minister Ross and I launched the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways. Under this Strategy, €53m is available from my Department for the funding of Greenways projects between 2019 and 2021 and applications from the first funding call under this strategy are currently being considered by my Department officials and a cross departmental and agency project assessment board.
In order to help ensure alignment of efforts across all relevant Government Departments and State agencies, the Deputy will be pleased to note that officials for my Department and from Fáilte Ireland participate in the National Outdoor Recreation Group chaired by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht - a cross-organisational group of public service recreational infrastructure providers, which aims to coordinate the approach to outdoor recreation across State-owned lands and waterways.
