Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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52. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up-to-date position in relation to the development of a Wild Atlantic Walkway, as included in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3666/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Regional development and the promotion of areas all over the country as great places to visit are at the heart of Fáilte Ireland's remit. The development of a Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path has been an ambition of Fáilte Ireland’s long-term development of the Wild Atlantic Way visitor proposition.

Due to resource and work challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fáilte Ireland had to defer initial work on this project in 2022. However the development of the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path remains a priority in 2023.

Fáilte Ireland is hoping to commence work on the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path early this year and will procure consultants to support this work.? The organisation aims to have developed a roadmap and methodology to inform its approach to developing an iconic walking trail along the Wild Atlantic Way, and to have initiated community consultation and engagement to inform the roadmap and methodology. Initial work will inform a methodology to develop a number of routes and will incorporate an order of magnitude costs for the infrastructural development of each of the trails.

The procurement process to tender for consultants for the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path to develop a framework for delivery is due to commence in Q1 2023 with the objective of having consultants on board by Q2, with a 12-to-18-month timeframe for delivery of the framework.