John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When Waterford's 147 km coastline was excluded from the Wild Atlantic Way initiative I then sought assurances from the Department that my constituency was not being left behind in what we all know is a highly competitive tourism market. In reply to a Priority Question last April, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Michael Ring, told me that the Ancient East tourism proposition, which is built on an abundance of culture and heritage assets in the south east and midlands, would have a positive impact on overseas tourism in Waterford. At the time the Minister of State highlighted places such as the historic round tower in Ardmore, Ghaeltacht na Rinne, and the unique mining story of the Copper Coast, which is a superb and wonderful geopark, as assets that could be promoted under the Ancient East initiative. The Minister of State said that the Ancient East project could be a game-changer for Waterford. They were his exact words to me in the Dáil at the time.

The question we are asking in Waterford now is why it is one of the only counties involved in the Ancient East initiative that has not received specific funding in the first phase of the initiative, which totals approximately €1.8 million. Many of us feel that this is a snub to the city and county, in particular to the many people who make their living in the Waterford city and county tourism sector. Many of those people have been most patient after we were short-changed in the Wild Atlantic Way initiative. We were told that we would be looked after under the Ancient East initiative. In the debate on the Wild Atlantic Way, the Minister of State resorted to shouting and screaming like a hyena. That was recorded on local radio in Waterford so the exclusion of Waterford from the Wild Atlantic Way initiative did not do the Government or the Minister of State any good.

I understand that only the first phase of the investment has been made. Could the Minister provide a commitment that submissions from Waterford will receive funding in the second phase? Could he also indicate when the funding will be made available? For instance, will the Metal Man project in Tramore be considered under the second phase?

At the time, the Minister of State told me that the Wild Atlantic Way was born out of a need to address the dramatic decline in international visitors to Ireland, in particular in the west. However, I pointed out that Bord Fáilte’s figures show a drop in visitor numbers to the south-east region from 1.1 million in 2000 to fewer than 685,000 in 2010. That was one of the most dramatic drops in any region in the State. Accordingly, the Minister can understand why very many businesses and people in the tourism industry in Waterford are aghast that we were completely excluded from the Wild Atlantic Way and that funding was not made available to Waterford for the Ancient East initiative. In addition, the funding might not even be made available until the second tranche, which might only be made available next year. We do not know what Government will be in power then.

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