Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, the staff of the Minister's Department, through the Office of Public Works, do a fantastic job with heritage sites. They have seen increases in the number of visitors, including in my area. Staff have told me that one issue the office could look at is that of new technologies. For many visitors arriving in the country, one of the first things they want to do is download an app showing local visitor attractions. The provision of that type of application might be a more cost-effective way to go than riddling the country with more signs. Having said that, the Wild Atlantic Way initiative has, as I said, been innovative in its use of road signs from County Cork to County Donegal. That could be very easily enhanced by the OPW. There is a great willingness on the part of local authorities which will all be knocking on the Minister's door to seek an increased allocation from the local government fund to become involved in these initiatives. There is a great deal of potential in the case of the Ireland's Ancient East region which includes the Minister's county. Having used the Wild Atlantic Way route through County Donegal during the summer and having spoken to people there, it clearly has made a massive difference o a lot of local communities that heretofore did not have the benefit of this type of tourism product. I realise Newgrange, Dublin Castle and places like them are at the pinnacle of the OPW's portfolio, but there are hundreds of fantastic sites around the country with excellent guides who are only waiting to greet visitors on behalf of the OPW.

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