Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 December 2022
215. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is considering taking an interest in Shannon Heritage in the context of preserving and enhancing the State’s tourism offering. [63109/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are participating in an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of Transport, to consider the possible transfer of key Shannon Heritage sites to the relevant local authorities. While Shannon Heritage DAC is part of the Shannon Group Plc which comes under the aegis of the Minister for Transport, it is recognised that these sites are an important part of the wider tourism offering in Clare and Galway, and in the wider mid-west region.
My Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. Implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as other bodies. While my Department provides capital funding to Fáilte Ireland to invest in the tourism product offering, it does not have a role in the administration of its funding programmes and nor does it have discretionary funding to assist with individual tourism proposals. Fáilte Ireland is available to offer advice to current Shannon Heritage sites on the development of those sites.
