Funding for new Water Sports Activity Facility Centres in Tramore and Ardmore

Waterford TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh today welcomed the announcement of significant funding for new Water Sports Activity Facility Centres in Tramore and Ardmore. The funding which was announced by Deputy Ó Cathasaigh’s Green Party colleague and Minister for Sport & Tourism, Catherine Martin along with Fáilte Ireland is part of a wider package of €19 million for a total of 22 projects across the country where water-based activities are a key visitor attraction. It recognises the importance and value of water sports and outdoor recreation for our domestic and international tourism market as well as for year-round recreation.

Speaking after the announcement, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said: “This is a great news day for both Tramore and Ardmore. These new Water Sports Activity Facility Centres will make a huge difference to our tourism offering but will also be a well-used year round resource for locals. There has been a huge increase in the numbers of people enjoying kayaking, surfing, sea-swimming and paddle-boarding over the last few years but even more so during the pandemic. Today’s announcement of these all-weather changing, storage, and shower facilities recognises a new demand and will result in state-of-the-art facilities we can be proud of”.

Each centre will provide hot showers, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points. They will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainable materials such as solar heating panels to meet ‘Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards’

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh continued: “One of the very few positives that have come out of the pandemic is the sense of reconnection with our local areas. We all got to know our 5km very well. Tramore and Ardmore beaches have provided a lifeline for so many people during the restrictions in terms of their mental and physical health. These  new facilities will build on our appreciation of our local areas, support our local economy and the outdoor activity sector and will result in new opportunities for these towns. They will also contribute to an extension of the tourism season beyond the traditional summer months which will benefit Irish people holidaying at home in the short term but our overall tourism market long term. They will play a key role in our post-COVID recovery and allow us to capitalise on the wonderful natural resource we have along the Waterford coast”.

I am very pleased to see that these new facilities will meet the nZEB energy rating standard (Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards). This means they will be carbon neutral in the long run. These buildings meet a high energy performance standard and the energy they use should come from renewable sources.

More Information

A second phase is expected to commence in 2023 under Fáilte Ireland’s Platforms for Growth capital investment programme.

Nearly Net Zero Building Standards

‘Nearly Zero Energy Buildings’ means a building that has a very high energy performance. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby. For more information visit: https://www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/standards/nearly-zero-energy-building-standard/

Fáilte Ireland 

As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the national economy and to regional development and employment. Pre-coronavirus, the sector generated revenue of €7.5billion annually and supported 260,000 jobs nationwide while contributing €1.7billion to the Exchequer. 
  
We work in partnership with Government, State agencies, Local Authorities, representative groups and industry, to develop tourism across Ireland by creating destination development plans and networks, investing in infrastructure, activities, visitor attractions and festivals.  Fáilte Ireland also provides consumer and buyer insights, mentoring, business supports and training programmes and buyer platforms to help tourism businesses innovate and grow.  
  
In addition, Fáilte Ireland supports Business Tourism, managing the bidding for and securing of larger conferences, meetings and events to be hosted in Ireland. 
  
We are also responsible for domestic holiday marketing across four regional experience brands: Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Dublin.    

Platforms for Growth

Platforms for Growth is funded under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy with the aim of driving sustainable growth in the Irish tourism sector and higher revenue and job creation around Ireland.

It is unlike any previous investment announced by Fáilte Ireland, as it specifically targets ‘platforms’ or projects that have the greatest potential to grow tourism across Ireland and fill gaps in the Irish tourism offering to meet changing visitor preferences.

The programme of investment is Fáilte Ireland’s largest yet, and forms part of its Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects which runs up to 2022.