John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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In terms of the development of greenways, the economic indicators in Scotland, Switzerland, Austria and so on for the past ten or 15 years have shown their economic value. They attract proficient cyclists, walkers and so on from other countries. SMEs also set up along their greenways. As the Chairman knows, 37 or 40 small businesses - pubs and restaurants - have been reinvigorated and redeveloped along the Waterford-Dungarvan greenway. Senator Reilly is correct.

In recent years, Fáilte Ireland started promoting greenways, particularly in countries like France and the Netherlands where people are big into their cycling, parts of northern England and so on. This summer, we saw people from those countries travelling to Ireland specifically to cycle on our greenways and stay in the hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation along them. It will probably take another year or two, but I am positive that the economic benefits will be profound in the coming years. I agree with the Senator that we should continue investing in greenways, given that those that we have invested in have been good for the economy.