Ireland's tourism industry has been handed a funding boost for the forthcoming year as part of the Department for Arts, Sport and Tourism (DAST) overall allocation in the 2010 Budget.

Tourism minister Martin Cullen has welcomed the government's commitment to help the industry with a range of initiatives designed to return the number of inbound visitors to growth, following a period of decline. DAST's tourism services budget for the forthcoming year has increased by 2 per cent to €155m (£140.4m), while finance minister Brian Lenihan has allocated &euro:22m (£19.9m) to invest in the upgrade of major tourist attractions and improving cycling and water-based infrastructure, as well as local heritage sites.

More than €44m (£39.9m) has been earmarked for marketing Ireland in overseas markets, which follows Tourism Ireland's recent announcement for a major push to bring in more visitors from Britain and Germany. Cullen said: "This enhanced allocation is clear recognition by government of the important role that the tourism and hospitality sector will play in Ireland's economic recovery.

"While the sector has suffered this year, tourism is a critical indigenous sector that sustains around 200,000 jobs, generating over €4bn (£3.6bn) in export earnings and almost &euro:1.5bn (£1.4bn) in taxes for the Exchequer." However, the arts and sports sectors were unable to escape government's efforts to rein in public spending. Total arts expenditure will decrease by 6 per cent, including a 6 per cent fall in funding for the Arts Council, while the Irish Sports Council will suffer a 4 per cent cut in public cash.

The first phase of the National Sports Campus scheme will remain under review, but the government will press ahead with a new National Opera Company and funding for the redevelopment of the Lansdowne Road Stadium. Funding for national cultural sites will be maintained, as well investment in smaller and regional museums. Image: Tourism Ireland/Eoghan Kavanagh