Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 11 April 2024

Committee on Public Petitions

Campaign for a Walking and Cycling Greenway on the Closed Railway from Sligo to Athenry: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Barry Kenny:

It can differ. For example, the reinstatement of the Limerick–Foynes freight line, which we are currently engaged in, is effectively happening as a track renewal project. There is no planning permission process. Issues can arise where there are land takes, particularly if working around level crossings. In a best-case scenario, one would like to minimise the number of level crossings, but it is not always possible. To do it, a small number of land takes are needed on both sides of a level crossing. It depends on the circumstances. It can be advantageous to have a railway order process, which is the rail equivalent of planning permission through An Bord Pleanála. We are now in this process. There has recently been an oral hearing on Metrolink.