Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
500. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether consideration has been given to targeted investment or incentive schemes to support the redevelopment of large-scale vacant or underutilised industrial sites for tourism-related uses such as food tourism, visitor centres, or experimental attractions in regional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30555/26]
View answerIn line with the Programme for Government, I launched the National Tourism Policy Statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism, on 1 December 2025. The Policy sets out the Government’s long-term approach to tourism development to 2031 and provides a framework to support a competitive, sustainable and regionally balanced tourism sector.
The Policy positions tourism within the wider enterprise, trade and employment agenda and sets clear targets for growth in revenue and employment, with a particular focus on supporting tourism SMEs and achieving stronger performance in less mature tourism regions. A central element of the Policy is continued public support for tourism capital investment, prioritising projects that enhance the visitor experience, support regional spread and contribute to extending the tourism season.
Under the Policy, Fáilte Ireland will develop and implement a capital investment strategy to guide public investment in tourism infrastructure in line with these objectives.
Implementation of the Policy will be overseen by a Tourism Policy Oversight Group, with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland aligning their corporate plans accordingly. The Government has already demonstrated its commitment through measures including €400 million for tourism development and promotion under the Sectoral Capital Plan 2026–2030.
As part of the EU Just Transition Fund, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, Fáilte Ireland is delivering a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands. Through this scheme, Fáilte Ireland is investing in the sustainable development of tourism in the Midlands with the aim of diversifying the regional economy by creating jobs, supporting habitats and biodiversity and sustaining communities, and it is being delivered through a series of funding programmes.
One of the programmes is the Trail Network Development Scheme, a €30m fund towards the regeneration and repurposing of peatlands through the development of a network of trails. Through this Scheme Bord na Móna (BnM) will develop a network of universally accessible walking and cycling trails across BnM lands. The scheme includes trail development on suitable BnM lands, predominantly on former rail beds and bog headlands that were previously used for peat extraction and will include new developments as well as upgrades to existing trails to significantly improve the user experience. Construction has commenced in Westmeath and Longford, with works due to commence in Offaly.
In Carrick on Suir, Fáilte Ireland is working with Tipperary County Council on a project to explore the potential tourism uses for the “Gold Crop" site. This project involves a feasibility study on potential uses, for which Fáilte Ireland has awarded a grant of €185,000 to the Tipperary County Council in order to progress this project and it is expected to be concluded by May 2026.
Fáilte Ireland has also awarded €150,000 to Longford County Council for a project involving the development of an amphitheatre in a former quarry. The project funded the planning and design stages of the development. The amphitheatre was awarded planning permission in March 2026. The detail design stage is now underway and is expected to be complete in June 2026.
