€40m tourism plan in doubt as cash cu

Fáilte Ireland’s decision to pull millions in funding from a tourism project could jeopardise a €40m masterplan to transform an island in Cork harbour into a national park capable of attracting up to 200,000 visitors annually.

It has refused to provide €4m in funding to Cork County Council to kick- start the first phase of a project aimed at attracting tourists to Spike Island.

County manager Martin Riordan told the Irish Examiner he was very disappointed by the decision. He said he has written to the chairman and chief executive of Fáilte Ireland seeking an urgent meeting, in the hope of convincing the board to change its mind.