Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the work of the local community, Malin Head Development Association, local businesses, the Inishowen Development Partnership and, in particular, local councillor Mr. Martin McDermott, all of whom have been working together to try to further this project. I am disappointed by the Minister of State's response. It is three years since Fáilte Ireland, with Donegal County Council and local partners, committed to the development of Malin Head over three phases. Phase one has been completed. Phase two provides for development of the car parking and toilet facilities. Donegal County Council worked with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and planning authorities in respect of planning permission for this project. It did so on the understanding that once permission had been obtained Fáilte Ireland would then provide a grant to deliver on the project. Fáilte Ireland brought people down a pathway on the understanding that funding would be available. Now that the end of that pathway has been reached, Fáilte Ireland is proposing a return to the start of the process and the taking of a new route, with no funding to be provided until that new process has been exhausted. In the meantime, three years have been lost and local businesses and the tourism potential of the county and peninsula is suffering, which is unacceptable.

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