Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement yesterday from the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, on the Shannon Estuary drive following calls from me for the inclusion of Limerick in the wild Atlantic way. I am glad the Minister has announced the initiative. It will be a touring route and a pilot scheme will be run in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland. It will involve an inland visitor experience. It is linked from Foynes, which is already on the Wild Atlantic Way, to Killimer, County Clare. It will benefit small businesses and the hospitality and tourism industry.

The initiative also ties in with the timely announcement from Paul O'Connell, of rugby fame, about his appointment to head the new interactive rugby museum on the main street in Limerick. Limerick is synonymous with sport and tourism. The fact that these initiatives have been announced at the same time is very positive. I welcome both and hope they will work together in terms of attracting tourists to our streets.