Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 June 2016
254. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the schemes he funded under smarter travel 2015 and 2016 in counties Longford and Westmeath; if he will consider funding both greenway projects in counties Longford and Westmeath under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18852/16]
View answer255. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to set out a national policy framework for greenway construction and management due to the number of State bodies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18858/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.
Westmeath County Council was awarded €4m under the Stimulus package 2014 for the construction of the Mullingar to Athlone Greenway. A further €3.26m was allocated to this project during 2015 from a combination of Government's further investment in infrastructure and a redistribution of Smarter Travel funding.
Westmeath County Council was also awarded funding of €790,000 under the Stimulus package 2014 for construction of the Coolnahay to Westmeath/Longford County boundary greenway.
I understand that Westmeath County Council wish to see the Mullingar to Athlone Greenway extended by 2.2km along the disused railway line from Garrycastle to Whitegates given the significant connectivity this would bring to schools and sports amenities in the area.
While Longford County Council submitted an application under the 2014-2016 funding call for the Ballymahon to Abbeyshrule Greenway no funding was awarded at that time.
The possibility of assisting both authorities deliver the above mentioned projects is being considered by my Department along with a number of other project proposals that have planning permission in place, such as the sections of the Galway to Dublin Greenway in Counties Kildare and Meath and the proposal for a Greenway from Tullamore to Lough Boora.
The Programme for Government sets me and my Department the target of developing national guidelines for Greenway public consultation, planning and construction and my officials are examining means of expediting this work. I think there are lessons to be learned from the work undertaken to date and this should inform us as we develop the network into the future.
