Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Wild Atlantic Way runs along the west coast. It was put in place because for many years thousands of visitors had been lost to the west coast as there was no initiative to bring them there. This has been a record year in terms of the numbers who have come to the west and the country as a whole. I take the opportunity to say "Well done" to Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and my Department for the work they have done in the past three years. I met many people in Deputy Timmy Dooley's county of Clare over the summer who told me it was the best year they had had for 20 years. I visited west Cork recently and the discovery points offer a brilliant facility. When the project is finished, it will be fabulous. West Cork is beautiful. The Wild Atlantic Way is a rugged coastline which, I am sorry to say, does not extend to every corner of the country. We have to have what we sell. The area includes counties Clare, Galway and Sligo, but we are examining other facilities in the areas mentioned by the Deputy. That is why we are working in the south east to ensure facilities are made ready and enhanced.

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