THE Irish government will spend €200,000 this year's St Patrick’s Day visits, it has been revealed.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin announced the funding from the Culture Ireland Division of his department.
27 of the 28 Ministers in the Irish government will fly to various parts of the world to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint’s day – including two who will travel to Britain.
Heather Humphreys will visit London; while Joe McHugh will travel to Scotland, to take part in the celebrations there.
The only Irish minister who will stay in Ireland this year is Michael Noonan.
This year's visits are down on costs of 2014's St Patrick's Day trips - which cost the state €300,000.
Meanwhile, as the number of tourists travelling to Ireland jumps for the festivities this month, it is expected that Britain will provide the largest portion of visitors to the country.
Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Killarney are expected to be the top destinations for St Patrick's Day partiers.
