Munster Express Online

Independent TD John Halligan has described the omission of Waterford from the first tranche of funding for the Ancient East tourism initiative as ‘a disgraceful snub to the city and county’.
Deputy Halligan raised the issue in the Dáil this week with Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe, who confirmed that no funding application for tourism ventures in Waterford had been successful in securing some of the €1.8 million released for the Ancient East by the Government last month.
Nor could the Minister guarantee that Waterford projects would be included in the next round of funding, set to be allocated in early 2016, Deputy Halligan said.
“When Waterford’s 147 km coastline was excluded from the Wild Atlantic Way initiative I sought assurances from the Department that my constituency was not being left behind in what we all know is a highly competitive tourism market,” Deputy Halligan continued.
“The Minister gave me his word that the new Ancient East proposition, which focuses on
culture and heritage assets in the south east and midlands, would have a positive impact on overseas tourism in Waterford.
“Yet when the Government recently announced €1.8 million in funding for the initiative, Waterford was one of only two counties involved that did not benefit. This is an awful snub to the many people involved in the local tourism sector who were most patient after we were short-changed under the Wild Atlantic Way initiative. This will further undermine job prospects in Waterford’s tourism sector.”
Minister Donohoe told Deputy Halligan that Fáilte Ireland is working with interests in the county to “look at how applications can be strengthened so that they might be in a position to access funding in the near future”.
In a statement issued to The Munster Express for our September 15th edition, the absence of any Waterford-specific funding from the first phase of the ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ initiative, which totals €1.8 million should not be viewed as a snub to the city or county.
That was, in essence, the response issued from both Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism after its initial investment into 12 different sites throughout the ‘Ancient East’ didn’t include a Waterford project.
A Fáilte Ireland spokesperson told The Munster Express: “The (initial) funding announced follows a Fáilte Ireland call out for submissions from interested parties across the region and a subsequent assessment which applied criteria relating to the aims and objectives of Ireland’s Ancient East.”
She added: “However, it should be noted that this is only the first phase of announcements and Fáilte Ireland are currently assessing a number of further applications (including candidates from Waterford) from the original call. Fáilte Ireland will be announcing further funding for other projects before the end of the year where it is expected that Waterford will feature.”
A Department of Tourism spokesperson confirmed that Minister Donohoe is “aware that a number of interested parties in Waterford (have) sought funding” via Ireland’s Ancient East.
The spokesperson added: “However, this is a matter for Fáilte Ireland who determines allocations.
“It should be noted that this is just the first phase of announcements and that Fáilte Ireland is currently assessing a number of further applications, including candidates from Waterford, from the original call.
“Fáilte Ireland will be announcing further funding for other projects before the end of the year where it is expected that Waterford will feature.”
* We’ll have more on the Ancient East in next week’s edition.