Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2022
48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department and the agencies under the remit of her Department will avail of funding under the Peace Plus Programme to develop tourism infrastructure in the Border region and on a cross-Border basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the PEACE PLUS 2021-2027 programme presents an excellent opportunity to deliver North South co-operation projects in the border counties and tourism is one of the investment areas identified under the programme.
Since 2019, officials in my Department have been engaging with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and with the three tourism agencies on the island – Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland - to identify possible tourism initiatives or pipeline projects that may qualify for PEACE PLUS funding.
Department officials, both North and South, continue to engage with the three tourism agencies and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in advance of Calls for Applications, after which a joint tourism proposal will be submitted to the SEUPB for consideration for programme funding.
