Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the increase in funding for tourism. It is good that all of my colleagues here in the Seanad today are welcoming this Bill. The Minister of State says tourism is a growing sector and a key contributor to the overall economy, both of which it is. It creates jobs and generates earnings in communities throughout Ireland, particularly in rural areas.

I am from the south-east region, from Tramore, County Waterford, and unfortunately we are not seeing the growth or recovery in jobs in the south-east region like we are seeing in other areas of Ireland. Particularly in terms of tourism, it would be fitting for the Government to look at where recovery has not been felt on the ground in some rural areas and when distributing capital funding, that it specifically target the weak economic areas, such as Waterford and the rest of the south-east region, and bolster these areas.

The Wild Atlantic Way is a magnificent offering. I believe Ireland, as a tourism product, is next to none. I have travelled the length and breadth of the globe through 30 years and Ireland has the beautiful green rural regions that are excellent for tourism but it would be wonderful if capital investment went to areas, such as the south east, that really need an input, particularly with regard to Ireland's Ancient East. The Wild Atlantic Way has received a significant contribution over the past years and we are seeing the success. I would like to see such capital funding coming into areas that really need this support at present.

In Waterford, we have the Waterford Greenway. It is a cycling and walking route through areas of Waterford, looking at the beautiful Comeragh Mountains and looking out at the Atlantic and the Celtic Sea region. I would like to see sustainable ecotourism developed more in the south east because we have the surfing beaches and areas that without doubt need the capital funding that will bring more jobs into the region.

It is a great day for Ireland that there is more funding coming into tourism. I ask that the Minister of State have regard to the south east and that a good proportion of the funding would go to rural areas that really need it, such as the Waterford area that has not seen the recovery in job creation that other areas have seen.