Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)

I thank the witnesses for all their contributions today. We have seen both the positives of greenway development and the significant issues around engagement and consultation with landowners. From my experience in my constituency, we have the Athlone to Galway greenway. I am aware of the need for these to be done through meaningful consultation rather than consultation that is a box-ticking exercise. We have seen a lot of issues in terms of privately owned farmland and the threat of CPO. Certainly, the people affected are not anti-greenway. The most frustrating aspect is the communication issues that have been raised.

Ms Cleona O'Shea and Mr. Paul O'Brien both raised issues with the consultation process. The national code of practice outlines the steps that are involved in finalising a route. It says that consultations are supposed to take place from the very beginning and there should be multiple rounds of consultation. The witnesses have provided some of their personal experiences. When the local authority, TII or whoever it is engages with landowners on the rationale for the route selection and alternatives are put forward by landowners to prevent the farm being split or whatever the case may be, do the witnesses feel there is real engagement and negotiation on these alternatives?