Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

When one travels throughout the country one can see the fantastic work done on the Shannon and Erne waterways. We have a huge length of waterway. I fully agree with Deputy Wall on the need to continue to develop these resources, not only the boating resources but also the banks. Recently, I brought in all of the State agencies that have major land holdings, including Coillte Teoranta, which has done a huge amount of work on rural recreation, Waterways Ireland, the inland fisheries agency, Bord na Mona, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Fáilte Ireland and Iarnród Éireann. We discussed how the State can use the fantastic resources it has through all of these agencies not only for their primary purpose but also in a co-ordinated way for rural recreation. Abandoned railway lines would be super for cycleways and walkways. Waterways Ireland has dry canals that would be very good for walkways. We also have the waterways themselves. Cutaway bog could be used for children from cities and towns to do things they would not be allowed to do anywhere else because we do not have ecological problems there and Bord na Móna was very enthusiastic about this.

Coillte has been particularly good at providing scrambler and mountain bike areas and it has developed several great walking routes. Building on that model, we are seeking to bring together all the State agencies which own significant amounts of land to take a more coherent approach. I look forward to Members' support in that effort.

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