Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding progress on the Wild Atlantic Walkway, as provided for in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23601/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the national economy and to regional development and employment.

The development of a Wild Atlantic Way coastal path has been an ambition of Fáilte Ireland’s long-term development of the Wild Atlantic Way visitor proposition.

Research conducted by Fáilte Ireland showed that the idea of an iconic coastal walk stretching along the Wild Atlantic Way was considered a highly motivating factor for international visitors to come to visit Ireland. Early feasibility studies on the coastal pathway project have indicated that there is a strong economic value to rural and regional communities for developing long distance iconic walks, which significantly increase dwell-time in a destination. This in turn has the potential to drive economic growth and creates new opportunities for job creation and tourism business development.

Due to resource and work challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Fáilte Ireland had to defer this initial work in 2022. However the development of the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path remains a priority in 2023 and I understand that Fáilte Ireland is hoping to commence work in this regard in 2023 and to procure consultants to support this work.

The Authority aims to develop a roadmap and methodology to inform its approach to developing an iconic walking trail along the Wild Atlantic Way and to initiate community consultation and engagement to inform this roadmap and methodology.

The procurement process to tender for consultants for the Wild Atlantic Way Coast Path is now due to commence in Q3 2023. It is anticipated that the delivery of the framework and methodology will take 12 to 18 months.