Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The petitioners are very welcome. It was very interesting to note their commitment to and passion for an area in which I feel we have lacked in recent years. Every time I cycle in Germany or Holland, in the summer or winter, I always ask why we cannot have their facilities in Ireland. We can have them only if people like the witnesses, from various communities, get up and go with an idea and bring it to their local authorities and the Government. I believe funding is available. A lot of work has been done over the years, but, with the Green Party in government, I believe there is a much different approach. Local authorities have not been to the fore in grasping the serious tourism potential and even the local potential of greenways, cycleways or blueways. I see this myself. We are talking about the Western Rail Trail and Sligo Greenway but we want to extend the route farther to Athenry. It has my full support. The SLNCR greenway, which Councillor Casserly rightly raised, will bring us up to Enniskillen but we need to join them altogether. There are the Ballinamore Greenway, in my constituency; the Carrick-on-Shannon to Battlebridge Blueway, all the way to Drumshanbo; and the Shannon Blueway, which goes through Carrick-on-Shannon and extends down to Roosky; and also a blueway from Ballyshannon that crosses the Border. They are all beginning to link in but this can be done only through co-operation and by having people like the petitioners, who are prepared to roll up their sleeves. They have my full support.

I love railways. My late father, like many of his compatriots and others over generations, left Tubbercurry on the railway in the 1950s to go to London. I would love to see the railway and support railways, but on this occasion I believe the greenway is a no-brainer. It is the way forward. I live in Sligo town and look forward to getting on the greenway, stopping off in Collooney, where my aunt had a tea shop, and Coolaney, where my uncle had the Mountain Inn, a pub, and going on to Tubbercurry.

This is what will happen, and it is not just tourism anymore. When I was growing up we were told that we lived in a temperate climate. We can cycle or walk almost 365 days per year. With electric bikes and modern aids, which we will be using, I have no doubt that this will also be a means of travel, not just from the point of view of leisure. This is a safe way to get from Collooney into Sligo, and Carrick-on-Shannon into Ballinamore, once we link them up. I do not think people fully realise the potential we have. It has my full support.

I was involved in the greenway between Lough Key forest park and Boyle. I remember going to government to get funding in 2012 when there was no money in this country. I was disappointed in local authorities that, on a few occasions, spent the money on footpaths when it was specially for greenways. That greenway between Boyle and Lough Key forest part is now built. During Covid, like many other greenways, it was fully utilised. However, we need to link Boyle to Sligo, Sligo to Mayo and Galway, and further across the Border. There are a lot of others.

We can see what is happening on the ground. People like the witnesses are prepared to stand up. They have a vision. I thank Sligo County Council and Councillors Cassidy, Mulvey and others in that area who were involved in drawing up the proposal and have stood up to be counted. They have my full support. Greenways are the way forward for the country, tourism and sustainable travel for people who can walk and cycle. You would not go on any road now on a bike or walking with a bike. This is the way forward. We see all the work. We want to join up the greenways.

I applaud the witnesses' tenacity. I see Mr. Mulligan, who has shown serious tenacity. He has put forward his ideas, and with Mr. Quinn and many more, he has brought a lot of politicians on board. I applaud that; well done to him. I look forward to the next submission from the railways. I genuinely think that both greenways and rail traffic can co-exist and work together.