“We must get Malin Head improvements right first time” – Failte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland says its commitment to Donegal is absolute, and the Wild Atlantic Way, is a game changer for tourism in the county.
Yesterday, Failte Ireland was criticised by Cllr Martin Mc Dermott for not providing funding for basic facilities at Malin Head.
Today Failte Ireland says it is committed to enhancing the visitor experience, but it’s important that this is done properly.
In a statement, Failte Ireland says Malin Head one of 15 Signature Discovery Points along the Wild Atlantic Way, and one of three Signature Points in Donegal. As such, Fáilte Ireland is fully committed to the development and enhancement of the visitor experience at this site.
Following a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the full Wild Atlantic Way initiative, Failte Ireland says it now intends to provide funding to Donegal County Council to prepare plans for a significant visitor enhancement and management solution for the entire Malin Head site.
It is imperative, Failte Ireland ads, that we get this development right first time. Toilets and car parking will be considered as part of the work, but a wider vision and solution for the site if Malin Head and the Wild Atlantic Way is needed to generate the extra visitors, revenue and jobs for Donegal.
 
The statement in full –
Fáilte Ireland’s commitment to Donegal is absolute and we believe that our biggest project, the Wild Atlantic Way, is a game changer for tourism in the county.  Malin Head is one of 15 Signature Discovery Points along the Wild Atlantic Way and one of three Signature Points in Donegal. It is a very important part of our plan to ensure that Donegal benefits fully from the Wild Atlantic Way. As such, Fáilte Ireland is fully committed to the development and enhancement of the visitor experience at this site.
We have recently completed a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the full Wild Atlantic Way initiative and, given the environmental sensitivity of Malin Head, we have had to wait until this assessment was concluded before we could proceed with awarding funding to Donegal County Council to work up plans for the site. However, now that the assessment has concluded, Fáilte Ireland intends to provide funding to Donegal County Council to prepare plans for a significant visitor enhancement and management solution for the entire Malin Head site. Once these plans have been finalised and costed, they will be evaluated for capital funding to enable to works to proceed. Technical assistance funding could be released as early as September but, after that, it depends on how long it takes the Council to commission the design of the proposed works and to carry out the associated environmental assessments.
It is imperative that we get this development right first time. Toilets and car parking will be considered as part of the work but we need a wider vision and solution for the site if Malin Head and the Wild Atlantic Way are to generate the extra visitors, revenue and jobs for Donegal that we believe it can. Therefore, any development works at the site must also enhance the visitor experience at the location and allow for better visitor flow as well as ensure the protection of the natural environment there.