Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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105. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the footfall to date on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Green Way in the west of Ireland; his plans to support SMEs and entrepreneurs along these routes offering tourism related services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7716/14]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Wild Atlantic Way is still being developed with the signposting of the full route due for completion by April 2014.  Accordingly it is too early to assess or comment on what changes may emerge in terms of the level of use or footfall.  Of course, the route links what are already central attractions for the overseas visitor to Ireland.   From this year the Fáilte Ireland Visitor Attitude Survey will include a section on the Wild Atlantic Way and the results will be published in 2015.

Fáilte Ireland will support tourism SMEs along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way in a variety of ways.  For example, the marketing of the Wild Atlantic Way will complement any marketing undertaken by local communities of their own areas. A full range of marketing material is being produced which will include on-line information as well as maps, brochures and other material.  Other supports being put in place for tourism-related businesses along the route include digital platforms, sales plans, trade and community engagement, international publicity, domestic marketing and visitor engagement.  In addition, in order to drive international business, the tourism agencies last year introduced the route to overseas buyers for the 2014 tourism selling season.

With regard to the Greenway in Co Mayo, according to Mayo County Council, who have installed electronic counters along the route,  the footfall on the Greenway was 170,000 visitors in 2011, 190,000 in 2012 and 208,000 in 2013.