Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
314. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding has or will be allocated to Fáilte Ireland to enable it to issue another call for applications for grants under the large grant scheme; if so, the amount available for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46433/21]
View answerPlatforms for Growth is Fáilte Ireland’s strategic platform-based approach to large-scale capital investment in tourism product, which targets investment in line with specific ‘platforms’ (project types) identified as a priority for tourists on the basis of research and insights. Through this capital investment programme, Fáilte Ireland targets specific ‘platforms’ upon which it can develop and enhance visitor attractions of scale that have the greatest potential to grow tourism across Ireland throughout the year.
To date there have been calls for grant applications on two distinct platforms. The first call for applications in 2019 focused on the platform of immersive heritage and cultural attractions and invited proposals for large-scale projects of €2.5 million upwards. Upon completion of the assessment process, funding totalling over €44 million was awarded for the development of four new world-class tourist attractions in Cavan, Donegal, Mayo and Dublin. For the second platform, launched in January 2020 and involving a targeted call for applications from local authorities, funding of €19 million has been awarded for the development of word-class activity facility centres at 22 waterside locations across the country where water-based activities are a key visitor attraction. Further focused calls on other platforms will follow in due course.
Details of the funding allocations provided by my Department to Fáilte Ireland are published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Fáilte Ireland's overall capital allocation for 2022 will be confirmed in the 2022 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services.
