Irish transport, tourism and sport minister Leo Varadkar has said that Ireland could be set to experience its first annual growth in visitor numbers since 2007.

Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office for July to September 2011 have recorded a 10 per cent increase in the number of overseas residents travelling to Ireland.

The data covers the period from when the Irish government implemented a raft of measures designed to boost the country's tourism sector, including a reduction in VAT.

Varadkar said: "These latest figures, which cover the period from when the Jobs Initiative took effect, indicate that the measures are helping to sustain the rebound earlier in the year.

"We must continue to get the message out that there has never been a better time to visit Ireland in terms of the value available and the quality product on offer."