Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2015
10. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is in a position to support the Naas neighbourhood greenway project in County Kildare either in part or in full; the consultation his Department has had relating to the proposal; the advice and support that has been offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23485/15]
View answerMy question relates to a greenway. Although my question is specific, I am also trying to find out what the Department's general approach is to the development of greenways. Clearly, we must change habits. The initiatives by local communities like this one need to be encouraged and helped to develop.
The National Transport Authority, NTA, is the body that is responsible for the delivery of cycling infrastructure in the greater Dublin area in co-operation with the relevant local authorities. I have consulted with the NTA on the Deputy's question. Perhaps she might be able to clarify this for me in the supplementary. I will then revert with the information. The NTA informed me that no approach has been made to it by a project referred to as the Naas neighbourhood greenway project. If the Deputy lets me know whether the project has a different name, I will find out whether such contact has occurred. I am not in a position to comment on the exact nature of the project. However, the NTA's current understanding is that while the project is being described as a greenway, it may be more of a local cycle network within the town which might include elements of what we would describe as a "greenway" along the canal. I have requested the NTA to give me more information about this project but if the Deputy could tell me more about the contact she believes to be happening, the NTA will get back to her with a specific update on that project within ten working days.
I know it as the Naas neighbourhood greenway project but I will go back to it and ask it. I know the tow path on the canal is very much part of it but the plan is much wider and would cover the entire town. Clearly, the local authority will have a function and the like of the Leader project is being looked at so there may be a number of different mechanisms. I really want to know what the approach is and whether this is the kind of thing that forms part of the sectoral plans we will see. It is low-cost but high-return in terms of changing behaviour so I am really looking to find out information about the mechanism. The Minister is telling me that the NTA has a function. I will certainly gather some more information and possibly provide it to the Department.
I will update the Deputy about the kind of activity that is under way via the NTA in her county and constituency. The NTA is in the process of putting together a town cycle network for Naas with Kildare County Council. This will be provided as part of the greater Dublin area cycle network plan. Routes contained in it include the Grand Canal greenway through Sallins with a spur to Naas, Kill-Johnstown-Dublin Road-Main Street-Newbridge Road, Sallins Road, Blessington Road, Caragh Road, South Ring and Ballycane Road, N6 Monread Road-Millennium Park-Newbridge Road, the N7 Link through Lakelands Estate between Kilcullen Road and Blessington Road and a further link at Corbins Lane in the town centre. That is the nature of the network being developed by the NTA and Kildare County Council. I have been informed that they are marked on a map that is available and are being funded through the greater Dublin area cycle network plan. If the Deputy gives me more detail about the specific project to which she referred, I will find out where it stands.
Deputy Lawlor has a brief question.
I appreciate the fact that Kildare County Council and the NTA provided €50,000 for the development of the cycle way along the canal from Sallins as far as Naas. I was at the launch of that project at the weekend. The Royal Canal seems to be prioritised as a greenway. The link from Naas to Sallins links to the Grand Canal. Does the Minister intend to provide funding so we can develop that Grand Canal route as well?
From what the NTA has told me, the Grand Canal greenway, which will run through Sallins with a spur to Naas, forms part of the town network map that has been developed for the Naas area between the NTA and Kildare County Council. With the funding that is available, I am trying to progress projects like that. As the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, said in response to an earlier question, we face a real challenge because there is now massive demand for greenways across the country following the success of a certain number of greenways. We are trying to help with the design of those projects. At a point in the future, when they are designed the way they need to be designed in order to be high quality cycle networks, hopefully, we will be in a position to do things like that on a phased basis.
