Tourism Minister Urged To Ensure Ireland's Lakelands Programme

The Tourism Minister, Shane Ross, has been urged to ensure the progression of the Ireland's Lakelands programme, by Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Anne Rabbitte.

The programme aims to increase tourism along the River Shannon and its surrounding areas, providing a much needed boost to the east Galway region.

Making the call, Deputy Rabbitte said: "The Ireland's Lakelands plan has the potential to live up to the success of the Wild Atlantic Way, if it gets the necessary backing and support from the Government.

"Tourism has always been an important economic driver in the west of Ireland, but we need to see it expanded to other areas. This blueprint would see the River Shannon used as the focal point and would develop tourism attractions across Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath, East Galway, Offaly, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick as well as encompassing all the river's tributaries and the canal network across the Midlands.

Deputy Rabbitte said that the potential of the programme "cannot be underestimated", but that it needed government support.

"I will be writing to Minister Shane Ross to establish what progress has been made on the project over the past three months, and to emphasise the importance of this initiative to all towns and villages which are set to benefit from the plan. We cannot afford to let Ireland's Lakelands languish and become another broken promise and I will continue to press Minister Ross on the issue until we see progress."

(MH/CD)