Skip to main content
Normal View

Greenways Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Questions (797)

Frank Feighan

Question:

797. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide greenway funding to the proposed Sligo-Leitrim northern counties greenway (details supplied); his views on the importance of the greenway to the rural areas along the route; if the possibility of funding a small proportion of the greenway will be investigated to establish the route for future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7604/20]

View answer

Written answers

I had the great pleasure of opening a demonstration section of the Sligo Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) Greenway last year with First Minister Arlene Foster. As I stated then, it has great potential to contribute to economic regeneration along its route from Collooney in Sligo to Manorhamilton in Leitrim and to Blacklion on the Cavan -Fermanagh border before crossing into Fermanagh and ending in Enniskillen.

The last round of construction funding for Greenways required projects to have planning permission and ready access to the land required for the Greenway in place for us to provide funding. Unfortunately the SLNCR did not have that in place so was not in a position to be awarded funding for construction at that time.

Late last year, I announced a funding call under the Carbon Tax Fund for support for planning and design for Greenways and Leitrim County Council submitted an application for support under that call. I anticipate that funding under this initiative will be announced shortly.

The inclusion of a specific reference to the SLNCR Greenway in the "New Decade, New Approach" document that led to the re-opening of Stormont gives a strong indication of the level of support that the Greenway has in Government, both North and South.

Top
Share