Peadar Tóibín
Question:276. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport when construction of the Boyne Greenway will commence. [44818/23]
View answerThursday, 30 November 2023
Questions (276)
Written answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.
The Boyne Greenway is a proposed 27km route running between Navan and Drogheda. The scheme is proposed to run adjacent to significant visitor attractions including the Battle of Boyne site and the UNESCO World Heritage site at Bru na Boinne.
In 2023, €100,000 has been allocated to development of this route by the Department of Transport via Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The planning, design and construction of this Greenway is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with Meath County Council. The scheme is currently at Phase 2 – Options Selection of a defined eight stage process as set out in the TII Project Manager's Manual for Greenway Projects.
The Department of Transport understands that further flood study analysis was recently concluded by technical advisors and report finalisation is under review by Meath County Council (MCC). Once the options selection report is approved, a Gate Review Statement will be prepared by MCC and submitted to TII. If this is accepted, the project may be approved to progress to Phase 3: Design and Environmental Evaluation, this may happen before the end of 2023. The programme indicates approximately 14 months for Phases 3 and 4.
A commencement date for the construction of the Boyne Greenway is currently not available. It is anticipated that an application for statutory consent may be made in 2025; this is based on current best available information and is subject to all arrangements, gateway approvals and funding being in place. Construction commencement may be achievable within a one-year timeframe if planning approval is granted by An Bord Pleanála.