James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to debate this important issue, namely, the need for the Minister for Transport to ensure that County Longford is included in, not excluded from, plans for a 2,000 kilometre national network of cycle paths, which will connect cities and towns across the State. Can the Minister tell me the reason this county, which is the heart of Ireland and could be regarded as the central focal point where all routes cross, should have been the only county to be precluded in the first place from the Minister's vision of world class cycle routes, considering all Longford has to offer in terms of amenities, sporting facilities, natural resources and scenic landscapes? The Minister should be aware that visions tend to be suspect at the best of times. That one in particular seems to be flawed, and the grounds for accepting its validity seem shaky.

This exclusion makes no sense. To most people an all-Ireland nationwide network of 25 rather than 26 counties is a joke. I would like to know the reason anyone could possibly plan or, in the case of the National Roads Authority, carry out a scoping study into the delivery of a national cycle network and, on foot of its findings, omit one county - my own county of Longford.

I remind the Minister that County Longford is very much part of this nation. There is outrage across the county as people cannot understand the reason a county with so much to offer could be left out of this exciting plan. This is by no means the first initiative that Longford has been excluded from to the detriment of its economic well-being and development. This omission is very worrying at a time of economic fallout from the loss of tourism revenue and record unemployment levels.

I would like the Minister to outline the criteria that was used to select the route of the network and also the criteria for exclusion. It makes no sense to me because this is a county which has the national primary route, the N4 from Dublin to Sligo, running through it and a national primary and secondary roads network - Rooskey to Rathowen and on to the Westmeath border, which is 35 kilometres. That route could be extended to Mullingar and beyond. The secondary route from the Granard-Cavan border to Tang, County Westmeath is 50 kilometres long and could be extended into the city of Athlone. The Longford to Lanesboro road is 15 kilometres long with the potential of extension to Roscommon town. These roads and others are more than wide enough to support a cycle lane.

The cycle route would complement the recent reopening of the Royal Canal from Spencer Dock in Dublin to Richmond Harbour in Clondra, County Longford. As has been seen across Europe, a canal network is a vibrant cross-country link between towns and rural areas, generating a view of the hidden interior rarely seen from motorways or trains. A road network for cyclists would tie in with this amenity. However, the canal is not a direct route and for those interested in road cycle routes which are not separated from the road by a grass verge or other barrier or heading away from the main areas, the roads network provides the quickest links. The idea of a cycle network has been incredibly successful in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Apart from the transport and leisure advantages, cycling is an extremely healthy activity and as such should be encouraged in all counties of Ireland, without exception.

Longford, both north and south, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Its lakes, rivers and canal network provide a haven for tourists and locals alike for fishing, boating and other leisure pursuits. It is my understanding that the nodes of the proposed network are settlements around Ireland, with populations of 10,000 or more and the proposed route corridors are linked to tourist attractions and amenities. There are no grounds for excluding Longford. The corridors will provide an outline around which routes will develop nationwide, with potential for linkage between corridors, particularly where existing infrastructure will allow for cost-effective delivery. Again, there are no grounds for excluding Longford in that regard.

County Longford is essentially on the offshoot of the Dublin to Galway route, which I understand will be the main artery of the network. Common sense would lead one to see it as an integral part of any cycle network, as a final destination for those not wishing to undertake the longer route and as a stop-off point for those who do. Tourists planning to cycle along parts of the network could not find a more attractive county to aim for or a destination more likely to provide for a sporting holiday than Longford. The tie-in with the canal route allows for the possibility of cycling for part of the journey and travelling back by canal. This strikes me as a good link-up of resources.

On many occasions in this House and in the Seanad previously, I have highlighted the lack of funding for Longford-Westmeath and the removal of vital services. However, I did not think that at any time I would have to defend the geographical and logistical right of the county to be included in the definition of the nation. Longford was given neither hub nor gateway status and the pattern of exclusion seems set. Why this should be so I cannot imagine, but I am not prepared to stand by while my county is again treated with contempt.

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