Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope the Deputy is aware of how State agencies work because they have independence. Policy is decided and determined at Government level. The Government determines the funding for the State agencies but it does not actually run them on a day-to-day basis. That is why we pay a chief executive officer and staff and why we have Fáilte Ireland in place.

With regard to Government policy, we decided we wanted a proposition for Dublin because we wanted visitor numbers in the city to increase, and we got a proposition. Then we found there was a major problem with attracting tourists to the west. That is why we asked Fáilte Ireland to make a proposal and it proposed the Wild Atlantic Way. It is for the same reason that we established Ireland's Ancient East. We asked Fáilte Ireland to concentrate on the ancient east, particularly Waterford, to give this region the same opportunity. I hope the Deputy, his colleagues, the tourism interests in Waterford and communities will support this initiative and take it on board exactly as the Wild Atlantic Way initiative was taken on board.

Let me give the Deputy another figure, a very simple one.

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