Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1286. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to the Royal and Grand canal greenway projects; the progress made to date on works; and the expected completion date of works of each stage and or section of these projects. [9055/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRoyal Canal
The Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport has allocated €12.3m to the Royal Canal Greenway since 2012. This Greenway is expected to open this year from Maynooth in County Kildare to Cloondara in County Longford and become the longest stretch of Greenway in the country at 130km long, including the Longford Branch. There is still some work on installation of ancillary infrastructure, signage and marketing to be completed. The tenders for this work have had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Development of the urban section of the Royal Canal is funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA). A number of sections along this urban stretch have been completed; from Spencer Dock to Sheriff Street and from Ashtown to Castleknock. Works have commenced on the stretch between these two completed sections and consultations are ongoing for the final section from Castleknock to Maynooth in County Kildare.
Grand Canal
In 2019, the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) awarded €2.35m to Offaly County Council for the Tullamore to Daingean section of the Grand Canal and a further €1.7m to Kildare County Council for construction of the Grand Canal Greenway section between Aylmers Bridge and Sallins. Construction on these sections is due to finish in 2021 but COVID -19 may impact the completion dates.
The Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport also provided funding of €415,321 for construction of the section known as Arthur’s Way in 2014/15.
The section of the towpath between Blackhorse and the 12th lock in the Dublin area has been completed and planning has been secured for the stretch from the 12th lock to Hazelhatch in Kildare, although no funding has been secured to date. The remaining sections of the Grand Canal towpath in the urban area have yet to secure planning and funding.
