Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
353. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the engagement that took place between her Department and an organisation (details supplied) on a matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21625/24]
View answerIn October 2023, my Department received a formal proposal from Motorsport Ireland which sought significant public monies from the State to support the hosting of rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship, commencing in 2025 and following in 2026 and 2027. This followed a meeting I, together with Departmental officials, had in June 2023 with Motorsport Ireland.
In light of the relative immediacy of the proposed start date for hosting the World Rally Championship, the Department was unable to commit significant public monies towards supporting an event starting in 2025, given the need for thorough further assessment.
I have advised Motorsport Ireland that the Department is prepared to fund an independent economic analysis and business case assessment should its hosting of the World Rally Championship in later years be feasible. It should be noted that the independent economic analysis and business case assessment, is separate to the assessment which the Department has already undertaken.
Motorsport Ireland has welcomed this commitment and has advised that it will engage with the event promoter regarding the feasibility of alternative hosting years.
It is important to emphasise that in its assessment, my Department considered the experience in Ireland, and outside of Ireland, in terms of hosting this event in the past. The Department also engaged with key stakeholders, including Fáilte Ireland and Sport Ireland. In undertaking this assessment, the Department identified potential issues regarding Motorsport Ireland’s proposal, including the likely return on investment, the displacement impacts of holding an event in busy tourism months, and capacity concerns. This underlines the need for adequate time to consider any proposal for the hosting of major sporting events.
Following the completion of the Department's assessment, I was happy to meet with Motorsport Ireland on 1 May and reiterate the Department’s willingness to examining a future proposal, should a bid in a more suitable timeframe be possible. I look forward to any future engagement between the Department and Motorsport Ireland in this respect.
