Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, review the omission of Cromane Peninsula from the Wild Atlantic Way, in view of the fact that this area is a unique heritage fishing village and picturesque environment, and the inclusion in the Wild Atlantic Way route is logical and necessary for the development of the local tourism resource, and the only financial cost is signage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16072/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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While my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism offerings such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these.  The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.  

The Deputy should be aware that the route of the Wild Atlantic Way was developed using a collaborative approach; regional steering groups were convened to inform route development. The steering groups comprised Fáilte Ireland, Local Authorities, local LEADER and Development companies and other key agencies such as Udarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and others as relevant to each particular region.

For those communities that are not on the route it is important to note that the actual route is not simply a touring route but is rather a means to guide and attract visitors, and that all villages, businesses and geographic areas within close proximity of the route are in essence part of the geography of the Wild Atlantic Way.  The purpose of the Wild Atlantic Way is to give guidance to visitors as to what there is to see on our western coast, and provide easy access to a range of experiences along the route and so enable local businesses to take advantage of the benefits of the Wild Atlantic Way.  My advice to communities on and near to the Wild Atlantic Way is to focus on how to use the route to generate more tourism revenue and not to focus on specific details of the route.