Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator was correct to say that the Wild Atlantic Way had been a great success. It allows areas that visitors have traditionally not found to be discovered. The Senator mentioned Mayo. Let us take Erris as an example. It was a hidden gem and no one knew of its beauty, but more visitors are discovering it because of the Wild Atlantic Way and now it is flying.

I have discussed the points raised by the Senator with Fáilte Ireland. We want communities to work with it and local authorities. As the Senator correctly stated, that the route passes an area by does not mean that we cannot build facilities there to attract visitors from the way. This is what the Wild Atlantic Way is about. We are promoting this product heavily and it is beginning to win awards internationally, for example, at the recent World Travel Fair, but developing it will take ten years. We are doing something on it every year. Local authorities, communities and everyone else must buy into it. Where they have done so to date, the way is working well. Even those areas with traditionally strong tourism are finding more visitors arriving.

As the Senator stated, this will be the best year for tourism ever, not just since the recession. Last year, 7.5 million people visited Ireland. This year, we will welcome 8 million visitors. For a small country, that is brilliant. I compliment Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, my Department and local authorities. Communities have bought into the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and tourism, which is where jobs will be created in rural Ireland. I will seek the Senator's support in ensuring that the Government gives us funding as well as the chance that other areas have been given. Dublin is flying, which is creating problems in terms of prices, etc. We want to disperse more people across rural Ireland to give those areas an opportunity as well.