Alan Kelly
Question:1530. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Glenbeigh to Reenard greenway will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41189/16]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1530. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Glenbeigh to Reenard greenway will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41189/16]
View answer1533. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding he has spent on greenways in 2016; if he will provide a breakdown in this regard; his plans to provide funding to greenways in 2017; and the locations of same. [41192/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1530 and 1533 together.
Under the National Cycle Network (NCN) Funding Programme 2014-2016, €3,458,281 was awarded to Kerry County Council for the construction of the Glenbeigh to Renard greenway. I understand that this project has experienced significant challenges in terms of costs, planning, engineering and engagement with local landowners which has resulted in the delay in delivering the project within the timeframe of the funding programme. The focus to date has been on progressing the planning and design elements of the route. My Department officials will continue to liaise with Kerry County Council regarding the future development of the project.
My Department is developing a new Strategy on Greenways to underpin the future development and funding of greenways. The proposed Strategy will include the approach to be taken by authorities and agencies tasked with delivering greenway infrastructure where engagement and consultation with landowners is required and, when finalised, will inform the approach to be taken to progress delivery of the South Kerry Greenway. The Department will undertake a public consultation process in the near future to inform the development of the new Greenways Strategy and all interested parties will have the opportunity to submit their views on such issues during the public consultation process.
Details of funding claimed and paid by my Department to local authorities for greenway infrastructure in 2016 are set out in the attached table. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the delivery of greenway infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) in co-operation with the relevant local authorities. In light of its role in this regard, I have forwarded your question to the NTA to provide you with the relevant 2016 figures for the GDA. If you have not received the requested information from the NTA within 10 working days please contact my office.
Funding for greenways infrastructure from 2017 onwards will be considered in the context of the new Greenways Strategy. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to making additional funding available for greenways and I will be pursuing this in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which is planned for later this year.
National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014- 2016 (2016 expenditure)
Local Authority |
Grant |
Project |
2016 drawdown |
Galway County Council |
2,000,000.00 |
Galway to Moycullen Greenway |
16,816.38 |
Kerry County Council |
3,458,281.00 |
Glenbeigh to Reenard Greenway (Phases 2 and 3 of the South Kerry Greenway) |
366,770.21 |
Kildare County Council |
841,673.00 |
Spin Bridge to Chambers Bridge (part of Dublin to Galway Greenway) |
816,977.47 |
Longford County Council |
513,000.00 |
Abbeyshrule to Ballymahon Greenway |
513,000.00 |
Meath County Council |
1,971,000.00 |
Croboy to Moyvalley and Cloncurry to Blackwater Aquaduct (part of Dublin to Galway Greenway) |
458,512.52 |
Westmeath County Council |
496,187.00 |
Garrycastle to White Gates Greenway |
496,187.00 |
TOTAL 2016 |
|
|
2,668,263.58 |
Government Stimulus Programme 2014 (2016 expenditure) |
|||
Local Authority |
|
Project |
2016 drawdown |
Kerry County Council |
450,000.00 |
Cahirciveen to Reenard (Phase 1 of the South Kerry Greenway) |
37,543.31 |
Roscommon County Council |
400,000.00 |
Boyle to Lough Key Forest Park |
28,319.11 |
Tipperary County Council |
1,900,000.00 |
Clonmel to Carrick on Suir Greenway |
945,109.96 |
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.