Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this. The role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport regarding tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East are operational matters for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. The Department is not directly involved in their development.

The Wild Atlantic Way arose out of the need to address the dramatic decline in international visitors to the west over the last decade. Its main objective is to motivate overseas visitors to visit the west coast and give them reasons to linger longer. It was never intended to be defined by Ireland's entire Atlantic coast but to broadly follow the coastline of the western seaboard counties that share a common unifying tourism proposition. There was an extensive evaluation of various route options, and a comprehensive process of stakeholder, community and public consultation.

A similar tourism proposition for the south and east has since been developed. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and I recently launched Ireland's Ancient East, which is built on the abundance of cultural and heritage assets in the south, east and midlands.  I am confident the initiative will impact positively on Waterford, including the Waterford coast, which has such highlights as the historic round tower at Ardmore, the Ring Gaeltacht and its rich heritage, and the unique mining story of the Copper Coast Geopark. I certainly believe Waterford, including its coastline, has far greater potential to develop overseas tourism as part of Ireland's Ancient East than by artificially extending the Wild Atlantic Way. I hope that the communities become fully involved and make the most of the initiative as have communities up and down the Wild Atlantic Way.

With regard to the Deputy's specific questions about the route selection process, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to reply to the Deputy directly. He should contact my private office if he does not hear from them within ten working days.

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