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

I thank the Minister of State for his response. On his first point about tourists traditionally not travelling north into County Donegal beyond Bundoran, he will be familiar with this, coming from County Mayo which has received many tourists during the years. Historically, it has been attributable to the Troubles, but it is stilla factor to this day. Additional emphasis must be placed on trying to ensure County Donegal attracts more tourists and that they are spread across the county. The Wild Atlantic Way is a good initiative with which to do this and it is to be hoped numbers will improve in future years. However, it must be backed up by marketing. It must also be backed up with investment. I greatly welcome the update on progress the Minister of State has provided for Members on the phase 2 development at Malin Head. It also is welcome that a grant funding application is going to Fáilte Ireland from Donegal County Council and is to be decided on by next week. Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council have worked closely together to agree on the phases and, under phase 2, on the process for the provision of car parking and toilet facilities for which the necessary application will be made. This proposal should be given good consideration and I am hopeful it will. The important point is the proposal is now being put forward for consideration. When this topic was last discussed in the Chamber, Fáilte Ireland did not intend to consider investing in phase 2, for which planning permission is now in place, until agreement was reached on wider plans. It is greatly to be welcomed that the application will now be considered. I urge the Minister of State to continue to push for this proposal and investment in the Wild Atlantic Way. I will work with other political representatives and the local community to urge Fáilte Ireland to give the proposal the best consideration possible, as I am sure it will, when the application for investment comes before it next week in order that the facilities for which the grant application has been made will be in place by next summer and that an improved tourism product will be available.

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