Robert Troy
Ceist:199. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for completion of the greenway from Athlone to Galway; and the budget in place for same. [24075/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 31 May 2018
Ceisteanna (199)
Freagraí scríofa
A decision was taken in 2015 to pause the development of the Galway to Dublin greenway west of the Shannon to allow all stakeholders to reflect on the issues raised locally and to consider how best to progress this project, especially in terms of route selection and landowner consultations. The decision to pause was informed by a report submitted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) following intensive consultation with landowners along the preferred Galway/Roscommon segment of the route.
Since 2015 progress has been made on other greenway projects, namely the sections of the Galway to Dublin Greenway in Kildare and Meath, and the opening of the Waterford Greenway. The high standard of accommodation works provided to adjacent landowners on the Waterford Greenway have demonstrated how measures can be put in place to significantly mitigate potential impacts on operational farm holders.
With this in mind I recently requested TII and the Steering Group managing this project to look again at the route options report to see if a route can be identified that works locally and has the support of key landowners. While the work of TII and the Steering Group is ongoing I am not in a position to comment on either the timeframe or budget required to construct the greenway between Athlone and Galway.