Ms Joan Martin:

-----a long time, but that does not mean that we do not have the drive and the ambition to do it. We will do it. Yesterday I spoke with the OPW. There is a major project to be done in Dundalk costing approximately €40 million to prevent us from being washed away because of climate change. As part of that embankment to protect the town, a walkway and a cycleway will be incorporated into the design. Every chance that comes up, we grab it. We are as frustrated as the Deputy. Of course we want to do everything. One's ambition is for the county that one serves. In my case, it is my own county so my ambition is doubled, but one can only do what one can do. The ambition is there. We are not setting out to frustrate councillors.

The cycleways were to be done without compulsory purchase orders but I have ended up with bits of cycleways along the sea shore or on the road because, despite the best efforts of everybody, including elected members, farmers were not persuaded. We use compulsory purchase orders quite a lot in Louth. It is a longer and potentially more expensive way of doing things. As I often say to the council, I do my very best to do as much as I can with the resources I have available and with the opportunities that arise. Councils always have their eyes on all kinds of opportunities. We would not miss a chance to apply for funding for cycling or walking. We are always trying to get as much as we can for our counties.