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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 14, 2026

QUESTION NO. 40

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Excecutive what progress has been made to employ someone to act as curator/person for SDCC tourism offerings within the County?

REPLY:

The Council engaged a consultant to undertake a Visitor Attraction Assets Assessment and Operational Model Recommendation for its current and future tourism assets. The assessment examined the governance, management, operational and outsourcing requirements of these assets and sought to identify the most appropriate operating model to support visitors, local communities and the county's long-term development.

The consultant's report has recently been finalised. Its preferred recommendation is the establishment of a single overarching entity to oversee and operate the Council's portfolio of visitor attractions. The report notes that, should the Council decide to proceed with this approach, legal advice should be obtained regarding the most appropriate company structure. It also recommends a phased, capability-led approach, reflecting the differing stages of development and operational maturity across the portfolio.

The Council currently has one operational tourism asset (The Round Tower Visitor Centre), with the majority of tourism projects at planning stage. As such, the Council's tourism offering is still at an early phase of development and requires a continued focus on product and visitor experience development. The report's findings are currently under consideration and will inform future decisions regarding the management and operation of the Council's tourism assets.