Irish tourism body Fáilte Ireland has created a €15.5m (US$17.4m, £13.3m) fund for towns around the country that have tourism potential, outlining the necessity for exiting visitor attractions of scale in its qualifying rules.

Split among up to 62 towns that can demonstrate their "untapped potential" for tourism, the pot will provide "a springboard to develop towns with untapped potential from transit zones to destinations where visitors want to stay longer and experience the local culture,” said Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland.

Applications are open to local authorities between April and September 2019 and they can bid for funding between €250,000 and €500,000 to develop up to two towns under their jurisdiction.

The towns must already have in place at least one visitor attraction of a scale significant enough to drive tourism demand, at least 300 beds for visitors and be deemed to be able to engage visitors for 11 hours a day.

Works such as public space enhancement, public art, signage and the development of street markets can be undertaken and facilitated by the cash injection.

"There is an undiscovered Ireland, both in places already well established and in those off the beaten track," said Kelly

Brendan Griffin, Irish tourism and sports minister, added: "This scheme is a great opportunity for towns that aren’t fully active in the tourism industry to look at how their local economy can benefit from increased tourism activity as well as the physical development the scheme will bring.”