Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
522. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to encourage and support the roll-out of greenways; the funding and policy support available under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8370/18]
View answerPolicy responsibility for the development of greenways is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, my Department also supports the development of greenways through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Both Departments are committed to working together to ensure that the impact of the support available for the development of greenways is maximised for citizens and visitors alike. In this context, my Department is in regular contact with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and is working to ensure closer alignment of greenway projects which may be funded by the respective Departments.
There are already a number of good examples of the two Departments funding projects that are complementary to each other. For instance, I recently awarded funding to extend the Great Western Greenway into Achill under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2017. I also funded an extension of the Royal Canal Greenway in County Longford under the same scheme. These greenway extensions build on funding allocated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to support the development of the main greenways.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is currently preparing a strategy for the future development of greenways and this strategy provides an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperation between my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to greenways and to maximise their economic potential.
