Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
93. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport the progress made on a strategy (details supplied) in particular within County Mayo and linking with County Sligo; if his attention has been drawn to plans to develop new infrastructure between both counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3627/21]
View answerI am pleased to say that since publication of the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways there have been a number of positive funding announcements in relation to projects in counties Mayo and Sligo.
In 2019 an allocation of €3.2m was awarded to Mayo County Council to support the Clew Bay Greenway and that allocation was increased by a further €2.3m in 2020 in recognition of the difficulties caused by COVID-19 to the local authority’s capacity to allocate its originally envisaged contribution and to address some extra costs generally.
Separately under the Carbon Tax Fund I was also delighted to award funding to both Mayo County Council and Sligo County Council last year in respect of potential projects.
Mayo County Council was awarded €95,000 for a pre-construction concept and feasibility study on a 60km greenway link from Westport via Castlebar to Ballina. I would expect this study to complete this year and, depending on the outcome, a further request for funding to be submitted later this year.
Sligo County Council was awarded €300,000 for preliminary design and environmental assessment in relation to the proposed Sligo Greenway, linking Collooney to Bellaghy/Charlestown. An application for planning is likely to follow this work and I would expect an application for construction funding to follow.
As the Deputy can hopefully see there has been welcome progress in supporting greenways in Mayo and Sligo since 2018 and I look forward to even more progress in the years ahead.
