Record numbers of visitors from the US and Canada have helped make 2014 one of the best years yet for tourism.

Fáilte Ireland says visitor numbers are now at pre-recession levels, and on a par with the second best year ever.

During 2014, visitor numbers grew by an estimated 9% while foreign earnings are projected to be up 13% - an increase of some €400m.

Some 5,000 extra jobs were created in the tourism sector this year - with an estimated 8,000 more anticipated in 2015.

Fáilte Ireland's own business sentiment index is high, with almost 80% of operators optimistic for next year.

It says it expects Irish tourism to continue to benefit "from further increases in air access, the substantial capital investments made in initiatives such as the Wild Atlantic Way and the increased use of focused marketing both overseas and domestically."

Fáilte Ireland is projecting an increase of 6% in overseas tourists in 2015 and is confident - if competitiveness and investment is continued - that the sector will generate "record levels of revenue and create thousands more jobs next year".

Almost all (99%) of accommodation providers expect the same or increased tourist volumes next year, with four out of five of these businesses cite the keeping of the 9% VAT rate as a positive factor.

Hotels are the most optimistic, with more than eight out of ten expecting to increase their volume of business next year.

Chairman of Fáilte Ireland, Michael Cawley, says visitor numbers from North America have been particularly high.

Newstalk.com's business editor Ian Guider spoke to Lunchtime about the figures.