Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2024
66. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what progress has been made on commitments in the programme for Government in respect of developing a wild Atlantic walkway and a Carlingford-to-Cobh coastal route; what stage each project is at; if either is a real priority at this stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17068/24]
View answerThe Wild Atlantic Walkway project is included in Fáilte Ireland’s operational plans for 2024 delivering on the strategic product development initiative included in the Wild Atlantic Way Regional Tourism Development Strategy (RTDS) 2023 – 2027 to:
“Develop a framework to guide the development of the Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Path through the upgrading and enhancement of existing coastal trails, e.g., Cliffs of Moher Coast Path & The Dingle Way, and the identification and development of new coastal trails and linkages”.
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, given their impact in significantly increasing 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.
Fáilte Ireland is looking to develop a roadmap and methodology to inform its approach to developing an iconic walking trail along the Wild Atlantic Way. Consultant tender documents were developed in Q1, 2024 to deliver on this initiative with an Invitation to Tender for consultants to be issued in May 2024 with appointment and commencement late Q2, 2024.
In regards to the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic way, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland were awarded €7.6 million in 2023 for a Brand Collaboration for the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way. The aim is to connect the Causeway Coast and the Wild Atlantic Way in such a way that the visitor is motivated to stay longer and spend more thereby bringing greater economic benefit to the region.
The three agencies have met with all Local authorities along the route and brought them up to date on the programme of work.
The elements that are covered under expenditure in the programme are as follows:
• Destination Development/Brand Collaboration
• Experience Development
• Supports Discovery Point Development
• Creation of Common Industry Supports
With specific reference to the Experience Development element of the project, this will take the form of a small grant scheme and its details are as follows:
• The scheme will be open to the Public Sector, Private Sector and to Community Groups.
• The scheme will operate on a competitive basis and only those which meet the objectives and eligibility criteria of the scheme will be considered for investment funding.
• Mutually beneficial concepts and themes have been identified as heritage, maritime, natural landscapes and craft.
• The scheme will only consider applications that will enhance the visitor experience e.g. will only consider projects that are based on interpretation only, including enhancements to signage, language offering and experience development.
In the context of developing tourism along the East and South East Coast, Fáilte Ireland has driven initiatives such as the development of regional tourism strategies and destination development plans to set a framework for these areas. Nonetheless, Fáilte Ireland is working actively with the Department of Transport and local authorities across Ireland's Ancient East to develop a connected network of visitor facing greenways, with the ambition of connecting Cork to Dublin and on to Carlingford at some stage in the future and in this context I fully appreciate the value of regional projects such as the Wild Atlantic Walkway and a Carlingford-to-Cobh coastal route and the value of such projects for tourism around the country.
