Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis na Seanadóirí Lombard agus Dolan. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim comhghairdeas léi as an méid oibre a dhéanann a Roinn. Tá a lán ráite anocht faoin obair atá déanta agus an t-airgead atá ar fáil do rudaí atá ar siúl ar fud na tíre.

I want to focus on two things. The Minister and I would be familiar with the same area, having served in the same local authority, so these will not be new issues to her. There are two things in particular. The first is in relation to tourism promotion. Dublin gets a good shout on the tourism promotion front, but I feel Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown does not get a big enough shout. There are so many things in my area that are worth leaving the city centre to visit, from the village and town centres, such as Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey, to the food offerings that we have, including the excellent delicatessens, shops and food providers, from Glasthule to a two-star Michelin restaurant in Blackrock. There is so much to offer, as well as countryside amenities such as our parks, coasts and sea swimming, as well as the literary heritage. There is so much to see. It just feels like when tourism is being promoted, particularly for Dublin, those in the suburbs, particularly what we call Dublin’s riviera, which is slightly tongue in cheek, get left behind. There is room for them to be remembered, particularly.

The second matter I raise is a project that goes hand in glove with that, namely, the Sutton to Sandycove, S2S, which is related to the Sutton to Sandycove coastal promenade and cycleway on the outside of the DART line. I am not talking about the coastal mobility route. I am talking about a dedicated space next to the sea that would allow people to easily cycle out, without contacting traffic or having to dice between lorries, buses or anything like that, but a dedicated cycleway that would be a tourist amenity beyond compare in this country. It would be a fantastic way to see the south-east coast of Dublin and well worth promoting.