Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
703. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport details of the blueways including how they were established and how they are performing; the advice he has for those wishing to establish new blueways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45864/15]
View answer711. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the Castlemaine Harbour area from Inch via Keel, Castlemaine, Killorglin, Cromane, Glenbeigh and Rossbeigh in County Kerry as suitable for the development of a blueway; the advice he would have to develop this concept further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45917/15]
View answer712. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the Brandon Bay area from Brandon via Cloghane, Stradbally, Castlegregory and the Maharees in County Kerry as suitable for the development of a blueway; the advice he would have to develop this concept further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45918/15]
View answer713. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the Tralee Bay area of County Kerry as suitable for the development of a blueway; the advice he would have to develop this concept further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45919/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 703 and 711 to 713, inclusive, together.
A Blueway is a network of "free water trails" at individual sites selected to make it possible to experience a variety of water based activities in a safe and controlled environment, have open access and selected in accordance with criteria determined by the National Governing Bodies and other quality standards. It is not possible for me to comment on the suitability of individual locations but my Department is fully supportive of the development of blueways and recognise the benefits of these initiatives to local economies. However, it is a matter for interested parties to develop any proposal with the relevant local authority and National Governing Bodies, in the first instance, and then to work with Sport Ireland and or Failte Ireland as appropriate to develop any such proposal.
The Royal and Shannon Blueways - on the Shannon River and Royal Canal - were developed by a number of partners with the lead agency, Waterways Ireland. In May 2014 a coastal blueway was launched in South Galway and North Mayo following development of the concept by a committee drawn from interested parties including Galway and Mayo County Councils and National Governing Bodies for Watersports.
The National Trails Office, which is operated by Sport Ireland, has responsibility for the development of a standard for Blueways and for verification of compliance with the standard through a trail registration and inspection process. The National Trials Office is available to provide advice where the development of a Blueway is proposed.
